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THE FLORIDA WILDS 



0 


The Florida Wilds 


Being Tales of Adventure and 
Romance from a Land of Romance 
with Stories of Plantation Life 


BY 

EDWIN ALBERTON 


Cl. 

• I 


New York and Washington 
THE NEALE PUBLISHING COMPANY 
1906 



LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
Two Copies Received 

OCT 26 1906 
cuss A ^c.,N0. 

/<rsf ♦ A 

COPY B. 


Copyright, 1906, by 

THE NEALE PUBLISHING COMPANY 




INTRODUCTION 


Our home was situated on the confines 
of Big Forest. Father was a planter and, 
with a large family, had been left in very 
hard circumstances by the Civil War — a 
condition then common in the South. I was 
the oldest boy, and Jackson was the next 
in age. 

After years of trial and fruitless toil on 
the farm, we had secured clerkships in the 
city and were engaged in a great struggle, 
which was long protracted, to lift the fam- 
ily out of poverty and uncongenial sur- 
roundings. During this period we made oc- 
casional visits to the old abode, and enjoyed 
the exciting and dangerous sport of hunt- 
ing in that vast wilderness, with other di- 
versions incident to the time and place. 
The young men were expert horsemen and 
hunters as well as the old, and usually 
‘‘crack shots’’ with rifle, pistol or shotgun. 
Those of our own family who were old 
enough were not to be excelled in any of 
these accomplishments. 


6 


INTEODUCTION 


Cattle frequently went wild on tlie wide 
expanses of prairie; and hogs roamed in 
great, wild and dangerous herds in the for- 
ests. Into the jungles, of course, no horse 
could penetrate; so we had to become 
adepts in woodcraft to hunt successfully 
domestic animals or game. 

And ‘‘it stood us in hand^’ to be pre- 
pared for any of the conditions that might 
confront us in thicket or open woods, often 
in such peril that perhaps only quick and 
accurate aim, or skilful plunge of hunting- 
knife, or swiftness of foot, or fleetness of 
horse could extricate us from. Sports of 
this kind increase men^s courage — indeed, 
develop a sort of recklessness that makes 
the blood of those reared in gentler circles 
run cold to contemplate. It must be borne 
in mind that the region roundabout 
abounded in turkey, deer, and bear, with 
an occasional panther, gangs of wolves, 
wildcats and smaller game. 

Our pleasure was usually enhanced by 
the presence and active participation of 
two or more interesting and droll com- 
panions. Hugh Mosely was an unusually 
fine specimen of that class of backwoods- 
men known as Crackers. He was a man of 
large size and was of fine form and hand- 
some face. He possessed great physical 
strength, but was good-natured and 


INTRODUCTION 


7 


friendly. Like liis class, lie was inclined to 
be indolent, owned but little property, and 
spent much of his time in hunting and fish- 
ing. While on these expeditions he, as is 
characteristic of the Cracker, always pre- 
tended he was searching for his hogs. It 
seemed queer, if not ludicrous, that these 
animals should rove so incessantly as to 
require so much time of their owners, who 
were always impatient to get back to their 
‘ ‘ farms ’ ’ ! 

^ ^ Old Hugh, ’ ’ as he was familiarly known 
in the neighborhood, was a very skilful 
hunter and marksman, and seemed equal to 
an Indian in making his way through track- 
less forests and seemingly impenetrable 
thickets. He bore a good character and 
never swore a more wicked oath than ‘‘by 
granny ! ’ ^ 

McLeod was also a man of powerful 
frame, though somewhat more sparely 
built, and with a swarthy complexion. He 
was of Scotch descent, was fairly well edu- 
cated, but was utterly reckless of his gram- 
mar, choosing such language and style as 
at the moment seemed to suit his fancy. He 
had the characteristic humor of his race, 
and could spin a yarn delightfully, his oc- 
casional stammer only lending a relish to 
the recital. He was kind, honest, and cour- 
ageous, and a general favorite. 


8 


INTEODUCTION 


It was to Old Hugh, though, that McLeod 
and all of us boys yielded the place of pre- 
eminence as our authority in everything 
that related to woodcraft, hunting, etc.; 
and his unwritten laws on the classification 
of game, which he informed us were handed 
down from the oldest pioneer hunters, were 
regarded with great respect. 

For instance, bear and panther stood at 
the very head of the list. These were, as 
the boys used to express it, ‘‘Royal Ben- 
gaP’ game. Nothing so distinguished a 
man in that wild country as to become the 
slayer of either of these dangerous wild 
beasts. 

Deer came next. This was fine game. 
To kill a deer was an achievement which 
entitled the successful hunter to a position 
of importance with the craft. The wild tur- 
key was next, and on account of its very 
shy and shrewd nature was difficult to cap- 
ture, even with a bullet; hence the skilful 
turkey hunter was regarded with little less 
eminent esteem than the deer hunter. 

Wolves and wildcats were fair game, but 
raccoons were very ordinary and scarcely 
worth mentioning. Rabbits, squirrels and 
birds were looked upon by the big game 
hunters with disdain; and their guns were 
never turned on these except for meat, in 


INTEODUCTION 9 

emergency, or when they became mischiev- 
ous and intruded upon the fields. 

If a hunting dog so disgraced himself as 
to chase a rabbit or squirrel when on a hunt 
for larger game, it usually cost him his 
life ; for the hunter could not bear the hu- 
miliation of having his dog fall so far 
below the standard set for big-game dogs. 
Full-blooded hunting hounds have, by na- 
ture, a different mode of behavior for each 
species of game; so the practiced hunter 
can tell by the motion of his dog’s nose and 
tail what kind of game he is trailing. This 
may seem queer to the unsophisticated, but 
it is true. For instance, if a deer is scented, 
the tail will wag in long strokes from side 
to side, and the nose will be applied to the 
ground and to the bushes ; if turkeys, the 
mere point of the tail will switch rapidly ; if 
a rabbit, the dog scents the ground and fre- 
quently leaps high in the air, with ears 
pricked forward, looking for the little ani- 
mal; if bear or panther, the hair rises on 
his back while he looks fierce, moves cau- 
tiously — and so on. We had learned many 
of these things from Old Hugh and from 
our own experience. 

On our recreation Saturdays, Jackson 
generally preferred fishing to hunting. I 
preferred the latter, and gave as my reason 
that the fisherman had to await the pleas- 


10 


INTRODUCTION 


ure of the fish, and could not make it bite if 
it did not want to ; but I could take my dogs 
into the woods and force the game out of 
its hiding place, and I always liked condi- 
tions in which force could be used if 
necessary. 

Jackson not infrequently, however, laid 
down his fishing-rod and joined the more 
exciting diversion of the hunt. He gener- 
ally used a rifle, and enjoyed most the 
‘‘still hunt^^ without dogs. He was one of 
the dead shots of the community; and the 
report of his rifle usually signified that a 
bullet had hit its mark, and later he would 
come quietly in with a deer or turkey across 
his back. One day he appeared suddenly 
with four fine turkey cocks, two swinging 
before and two behind his shoulders, which 
was greater luck than I ever had in that 
line at one time. I preferred the double- 
barrel shotgun, and killed a great many 
turkeys, seldom coming home with less than 
two, but never any more. 

But the excitement of the chase, with 
dogs in full cry, and the game tearing at 
headlong speed through the thickets, 
bushes shaking and crashing, had the ut- 
most fascination for me. I had learned 
much woodcraft from Old Hugh, in our 
frequent hunts together, and had acquired 
the utmost agility in forcing my way 


INTEODUCTION 


11 


through the wildest and densest woods. I 
had a fine hunting-horn, and though I could 
never make such music as McLeod could 
with his, I could blow it with piercing clear- 
ness ; and the sound was recognized as far 
as heard by my acquaintances, signifying 
that I was out that day with dog and gun. 

With this introductory chapter I invite 
my readers to enjoy with me a collection 
of narratives including, as stated, hunting 
adventures and other tales incident to the 
period and the people who, with the author, 
had drifted into that remote region, once 
the exclusive home of the wild beast and 
the redskinned warrior. 

The stories I am about to relate are 
jotted down as they occur in my memory, 
without an attempt to preserve an un- 
broken thread. 

I think I can trust McLeod to sustain 
himself in his reminiscences, and I shall 
relate my own with at least that degree of 
relish peculiar to the old hunter and the 
narrator of amusing or thrilling experi- 
ences belonging to life in the backwoods. 


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CONTENTS 


PAGE 


The Fire-Hunt and Its Sequel 15 

McLeod at the Log-Rolling 23 

A Day of Rare Sport and an Exciting 

Conclusion 32 

Plantation Scenes and Incidents 47 

Lost, and an Awful Encounter 60 

A Story of Startling Adventures 71 

The Panther Hunt 93 

The Bee Tree and the Plan for a Camp 

Hunt 121 

Story and Adventure of Billy Mc- 
Leod 160 

The Cracker 187 

A Cracker Courtship; or, Billy Mc- 
Ijeod, the Matchmaker 197 


THE FIRE-HUNT AND ITS SEQUEL 

Fiee-hunting on land is done by means 
of a glowing torchlight carried by the 
hunter in a long-handled pan. The metal 
part of the handle is securely attached to 
a light, wooden part, which rests on the 
hunter’s shoulder; and the pan being filled 
with small pieces of pitchy pine, furnishes, 
when this is lighted, a bright blaze behind 
the hunter’s head and shoulders. The eyes 
of most animals will reflect the light and 
shine like globes of fire. With the fire-pan 
in position on a dark night, the hunter can 
easily see these illuminated orbs, and an 
expert can distinguish between the eyes of 
domestic and wild animals, so that a horse 
or cow is not confused with game. The 
animal, on the other hand, is so attracted 
by the glare of the light that he is 
‘‘blinded,” as the hunters say, and does 
not notice or distinguish the form of the 
hunter in front of the light. 

Behind the hunter usually walks the as- 
sistant, who carries the gun and a wallet 
of the “fat lightwood” to replenish the 


16 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


fire, but the game does not notice his pres- 
ence either, its gaze being fixed upon the 
flaring blaze. 

When the eyes are ^‘shined’’ the prac- 
ticed hunter knows just when near enough 
to shoot, and how to aim so as to hit the 
body, if he prefers not to risk his shot at 
the head ; and, at a signal, the man behind 
silently passes him the gun. Deer is the 
game usually hunted this way. 

On the night in question father carried 
the fire-pan, and I walked as the assistant. 
The deer were very wild and suspicious, 
grazing in the field which they knew was 
frequented by human beings in daytime, 
and many would not allow us to get within 
gunshot of them. After two or more 
rounds and midnight had passed, we tried 
again. This time father, determined not to 
be outdone altogether, fired at long range, 
and only wounded the game, which got 
away. On the last round, just before the 
dawn, this experience was repeated — an- 
other wounded deer made its escape. 

‘‘Well,’' said father, “it is too late to 
hunt any more now. We will bring the 
dogs down after breakfast, and see if we 
can catch those we have wounded.” 

“Suppose you do that,” I said; “both of 
us will not be needed, and I will finish a 
piece of work that needs urgent attention. ’ ’ 


FLORIDA WILDS 17 

Father assented, and I, thinking the dogs 
would easily capture the game, preferred 
to reserve my spare time for some other 
more exciting occasion. I little dreamed of 
what was going to happen. 

We went home and rested a few hours, 
having had little sleep during the night. 
After a late breakfast we returned to the 
field, father with his big gun and dogs, I 
with my hoe. Very soon the dogs were in 
full cry after the first deer, a doe, which I 
thought they would soon find already dead. 
But it seemed not to have been seriously 
hurt, and led the dogs a long chase, passing 
out of hearing. 

Presently one dog came back, and of his 
own accord took up the track of the other 
deer, which was a large buck. Father had 
gone after the first one, and was too far 
away to hear what was going on behind 
him. The last deer took an opposite direc- 
tion and of course got farther and farther 
away from father. I was very busy at my 
work, and had no gun; but the situation 
was very plain to me, and I feared we were 
going to lose our game altogether. Round 
and round went the deer and the dog in the 
forest within full earshot of myself, excit- 
ing all the hunter’s fire within me to des- 
peration, as my gun was nearly two miles 
away, and my pistol and hunting-knife 


18 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


were hanging up on the same gun-rack. 
Finally, the dog could be heard baying 
about a mile away. The sound came dis- 
tinctly up a stretch of prairie that lay be- 
tween them and the field and I knew the 
wounded animal had ceased to run and 
stopped to fight. I could stand it no longer. 
I could not let the faithful dog grow dis- 
couraged by having no help from his mas- 
ters, nor was I willing to lose the venison 
if it could be obtained. I listened a moment 
longer for father; blew my fist loudly for 
him, but no answer. 

Deeper and deeper came the baying of 
my good dog, and higher and higher grew 
my excitement, until I threw down my hoe, 
shouted encouragement to the dog and 
dashed away. 

What I could do without my gun I did 
not know, but I did not stop any longer to 
consider — there was adventure ahead of 
me of some kind and that was what I was 
thirsting for. So I leaped the field fence 
at a bound, and rushed into the forest. 
Frequently yelling to the dog, I pushed on 
through hammock and cypress swamp and 
plunged into the prairie, covered by tall 
saw-grass and water half-leg deep, full of 
muck and miniature floating islands of 
turfy substance concealing water of un- 


FLORIDA WILDS 19 

known depth, and infested by moccasins 
and alligators. 

But I had been through such places many 
a time before, knew the way, and recklessly 
pressed forward, though realizing my dan- 
gers. I felt the absence of my gun, how- 
ever, and had never been in this wild place 
before without it. 

When I reached the point where the fight 
was raging I found a splendid buck with a 
full head of horns, standing in an alligator 
hole of water that reached half way up his 
sides. These holes are circular basins, two 
or three feet deep, and eight or ten feet in 
diameter. The alligator burrows in the 
mud at one side of the basin beneath the 
surface of the water. In this burrow he 
hibernates, coming out in the spring dur- 
ing the warm part of the day and crawling 
back again, spending the night and cooler 
hours of the day in the den. It was spring- 
time now and early in the morning, and as 
the formidable occupant of this place was 
not in evidence, it was likely he had not yet 
waked from his long winter’s sleep. But 
the situation suggested that he might 
arouse at any moment, for he hates the 
sound of a dog’s bark, and is keen and 
quick to scent fresh blood. 

The buck’s body being half submerged, 
he was able to keep the dog off by fighting 


20 


FLORIDA WILDS 


with his horns. He looked furious when he 
saw me come up, snorted, and shook his 
head ominously. I took in the situation in- 
stantly, and might have been in despair, 
without gun or knife, but the occasion 
seemed unusually propitious for a novel, 
venturesome experience, which had always 
had an attraction for me, and which, in my 
present excited state of mind, was just 
suited to my taste. Quickly forming my 
plans, I made my dog stand in front of the 
buck and bay fiercely, keeping the latter’s 
attention attracted that way. I felt there 
was not a moment to lose, for I did not 
know at what instant the alligator might 
awaken and come to the surface ; and then 
I knew he would create a panic, if he did 
not capture the whole gang. 

So as soon as my trained dog understood 
me, and began making fierce feints at 
charging the deer’s nose, keeping the horns 
busy hooking at him, I got around behind, 
and by one quick leap plunged into the 
water nearly up to my waist beside the 
deer’s neck, caught the horns from the 
back, and at the same instant forced his 
head under the water to drown him. 

But the powerful fellow reared and 
plunged at a terrific rate, and by one tre- 
mendous etfort threw me off and outside of 
the basin. At the same time he made a 


FLORIDA WILDS 


21 


fearful lunge at my body, and probably 
would have pierced me through, but for the 
quick leap of my dog, who caught him by 
the nose, breaking his force and making 
him retreat again into the hole of water. 

I was not to be outdone, however. I 
picked myself up, covered with mud and 
dripping with water, signaled to the dog to 
take his position as before, and, reckless 
with excitement, leaped in again, catching 
hold of the horns and forced one knee onto 
his neck. I held on now, though sometimes 
in the utmost peril of having the sharp 
points of the antlers driven into my breast, 
as the huge creature tossed his head back- 
ward in his efforts to free himself. 

The struggle at this moment became so 
desperate that I dared not let go, as I might 
have been killed myself, and yet I did not 
know what instant, while head and hands 
were busy, that dreaded ^gator might 
awake and seize my leg from below. But 
my game finally yielded, and ceased to 
struggle, and I pulled him out and away 
twenty to twenty-five feet to a knoll where 
grew a few bushes on higher ground. 

About this time I heard my father’s loud 
whistle through his fists. He was trying to 
find us, having toward the last heard the 
baying of the dog and my encouraging 
whoops. I answered, and he soon came up. 


22 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


and leaning his gun against the bushes he 
proceeded to prepare the deer for removal. 

We had just performed this operation, 
with our backs to the hole, when suddenly 
a loud splash of the water and an awful bel- 
lowing roar behind startled us. Jumping 
to our feet, the dog howling and dashing 
away with fright, father grasped his gun, 
as we saw the huge alligator rushing to- 
ward us with his ponderous jaws, full of 
terrible teeth, flung wide open! Father 
was too quick for him, though, and fired 
down his throat, killing him instantly. 

Only those who have heard the bellowing 
of the alligator can appreciate the awful- 
ness of the sound. It cannot be described, 
but it makes the earth tremble like heavy 
thunder, and carries with it a guttural, 
gurgling sound, hideously menacing and 
horrible. They bellow in the springtime 
around their mates ; and I never knew one 
to do so before in attacking prey; but the 
sight of the dog and strong smell of blood 
reaching the senses of the great hungry 
saurian, just as he had emerged from his 
long sleep, must have suddenly excited all 
of his native ferocity. 


McLEOD AT THE LOG-EOLLING 


Fathee had set a day for a log-rolling, 
and the men had come in from the sur- 
rounding country in considerable numbers 
‘‘ter help ther ole cap’n out.’^ 

The good dinner, that was an unfailing 
feature of such times, was quite an induce- 
ment to those good-natured Crackers, who 
were usually willing to work one day for 
as much “good eatin’ as would fill their 
stomachs. We had fattened a shoat 
against that day, and drew liberally on 
mother’s garden for rutabaga and collards, 
there being nothing the Cracker, or almost 
any other laboring man, likes better than 
“pork and greens.” Along with these 
came old-fashioned pones of cornbread, 
sweet potatoes and coffee; for there was 
not a Cracker who would not have gone 
away deeply disgusted if he had not got 
his “can-fee” at “oF Cap’n Alb ’ton’s log- 
rollin’.” 

“Dinner-time!” called out father at 
twelve 0 ’clock. ‘ ‘ Here, McLeod, ’ ’ he added, 
“is your horn; blow it for dinner.” 


24 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


Mac, as lie was frequently called, was 
very proud of his horn, and could blow it 
almost as musically as a bugle. He took it 
from father and looked at it admiringly as 
he rubbed his hand affectionately over its 
polished surface, then raised it slowly to 
his lips. 

The blasts that came forth pierced the 
air and rang keenly across the field, reach- 
ing every ear, and then glanced over the 
surrounding prairies, rebounded against 
the green walls of forest trees beyond, and 
returned in tremulous echoes to their 
source. McLeod was enjoying the music 
he was making ; but the hungry men raised 
a loud shout, and came rushing over to the 
cool, gushing spring, where Mac was stand- 
ing, to wash their hands and faces for 
dinner. 

‘ ‘ Ay golly ! ’ ’ said he, hanging up his horn 
on a neighboring bush, ‘^you fellows don’t 
care — no more for music — than a set of 
Injuns ! ’ ’ 

‘^By granny!” replied Old Hugh, ‘H 
reck’n thar’s sumthin’ better ’n music er 
waitin’ fur us.” 

The great tablecloths from the loom 
were spread on the dry leaves under the big 
forest trees beside the field; a wagon-load 
of the strong, savory food was quickly 
placed in position, with plates, knives. 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


25 


forks, and cups ; and big pots of hot, steam- 
ing coffee were put at convenient distances 
along the line, when all sat down on the 
ground. 

Silence!^’ called out father, in his old 
military way, almost forgetting he was 
host, rather than commander, as he faced 
that long array of men. In the hush that 
followed, the circuit-rider, who happened 
to be present, asked the blessing, and the 
feast began, the ravenous laborers helping 
themselves. 

Many a joke went the rounds, McLeod 
leading, and many a hearty laugh helped 
the big, good-natured fellows to digest 
their meal. 

wish John Eob’nson was hyer,” said 

one. 

‘^Why?’^ asked another. 

‘M’d like ter put him ergin thet feller, 
Bill McLeod, over thar fur crackin^ jokes.’’ 

'^Waal,” put in another, '‘he’s a purty 
good hand et jokin’, an’ I ’low I’d like ter 
see him tackle Mac m’self.” 

"Ay golly!” said McLeod, "I wouldn’t 
set — at the same table — ^with him.” 

' ' Why wouldn ’t you, Mac ? ’ ’ 

"Because he’s too — dark complected.” 

"Is thet all you’ve got ergin him?” 

"Yes, that’s all. He’s a purty— clever 
fellow out — outside o’ that.” 


26 


FLORIDA WILDS 


‘‘By granny! said Old Hugh, “I 

don’t think he’s much darker complected ’n 
you air ! ’ ’ 

A laugh went round at Mac’s expense, 
but he rallied and said: 

“But you’re mistaken — Uncle Hugh; I 
can prove it to you — ^by a lady. ’ ’ 

“But thar ain’t no lady hyer.” 

“I know, but I was a-ridin’ — along with 
John one day — and we met a lady — and she 
stopped us and asked some — directions, 
lookin’ at me. When I told her these she 
asked me — sorter to one side — ^if that was 
my colored man with me ! ’ ’ 

Another laugh at the expense of “dark- 
complected,” absent John. 

“W^hat business did ye tell ’er ye wer’ 
ingaged in?” asked another. 

“I told her I was a — ^big planter.” 

“Why didn’ ye say farmer — thet’s what 
we call hit down hyer.” 

“Ay golly! that sounds too — darned 
Crackerish.” 

“What hev ye ergin ther Crackers?” 
growled a surly-looking old fellow who had 
not before taken part. 

“Got nothin’ agin ’em,” quickly re- 
sponded Mac, seeing he was getting on dan- 
gerous ground, and added, “The Crackers 
are the best — fellows I ever seen — ^but they 


FLORIDA WILDS 27 

ain’t big planters— like I told that lady I 
was.” 

‘ ‘Waal, ’ ’ said Old Hugh, skilfully bring- 
ing up the funny side again, ‘‘waal, by 
granny! ye hevn’t tol’ us yit what ye said 
to thet lady when she axed ye ef John 
Rob ’nson wus yer cullered man. ’ ’ 

^^I told her, no — ho wasn’t a nigger,” 

^ ‘ Then what did she say ? ’ ’ 

‘‘She said, ‘Well — ^he looks like one,’ and 
I said, ‘Yes, I agree^ — ^with you or at least 
— one or two more teches — ^with the 
blackin ’-brush — would a-sent him to the 
kitchen!” 

Another general laugh, in which the 
grim-looking fellow joined. 

And so the innocent jesting went on until 
dinner was over, and the men rose up from 
the repast with a glow of comfort on their 
faces, and gathered around the spring for 
a drink of its cool water. And then one of 
the foremen of a gang asked : 

“Say, wasn’t all ye fellers out ter 
meetin’ t’other Sunday, when ther parson 
hyer was er preachin’ erbout Joner an’ 
ther whale?” 

Yes, they were all there. 

“Waal, didn’ ther parson say thet Joner 
bein’ on thet vessel was what give them 
fellers all thet bad luck an’ fetched on ther 
storm?” 


28 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


^‘Yaas/^ they answered, and one said: 
‘‘An^ ye know they throwed hm in ther sea 
an’ er whale swallered ’im.” 

‘‘Yaas,” said the first speaker, ‘^an’ 
arter they got rid uv ’im, ther bad luck 
stopped, didn’t hit?” 

‘‘Yaas,” replied another, ‘Hhet’s what 
he said, didn’t ye, parson?” addressing 
the circuit-rider, who was pleased to find 
that his Cracker friends had remembered 
the story. 

^^Yes,” he answered, ‘‘after Jonah was 
cast ont of the ship the storm ceased. ’ ’ 

“Waal, boys,” began the first speaker 
again, “thet looks as ef one bad feller in 
ther gang might spile ther hull bizness, 
don’t hit?” 

“Jest thet way, pine-blank, accordin’ ter 
Scripter ! ’ ’ answered another. 

“Waal, now, then,” continued the other, 
looking around on the crowd and laughing, 
“I hev had bad luck all ther momin’ in my 
gang.” 

“How was thet?” 

“Nigh on ter every man in my gang hes 
bin pulled down.” 

“Who pulls ’em down?” asked Old 
Hugh. 

“ ’Tain’t nobody in pertickler. Hit jest 
seems like hit’s bad luck. They jest pulls 
one ernother down all ’roun’!” 


FLORIDA WILDS 29 

‘‘Waal, ef ye air havin’ sich luck es thet, 
ye mus’ hev er Joner in yer crowd, sar- 
t’in.” 

“Thet’s jest what I’m er thinkin’, an’ I 
wus jest er wonderin’ ef ther parson hyer 
couldn’t git me er whale ter s waller ’im.” 

McLeod had stood silently listening to 
this humor among the parson’s Cracker 
parishioners, until they arrived at this 
juncture, and then he saw his opportunity 
and put in : 

“Well, if he is as bad — as that other 
Jonah — it wouldn’t do no good — to swallow 
him.” 

“Why?” asked a chorus of voices. 

“Because he’d come up — ag’in,” he an- 
swered, winking at the Crackers. 

“Why, my brother,” spoke the parson, 
who thought he would correct the errone- 
ous idea that seemed to be in Mac’s mind, 
“it was because Jonah was at heart a good 
man that the whale was permitted to vomit 
him up on the land. ’ ’ 

“I didn’ take it — that way,” said Mac, 
respectfully, and with an air that seemed 
to say he was humble enough to be cor- 
rected, if he was wrong. But he repeated, 
slowly : 

“No, parson, excuse me, but — I can’t see 
it — that way.” 

“Well, how do you see it, my brother?” 


30 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


‘‘Well,’’ said Mac, “excuse me, but, ay 
golly! — it seems to me that fellow Jonah 
— ^was such a bad man, the whale — couldn’t 
keep him on his stomach 1 ’ ’ 

It would have done any one good to 
hear the shout of laughter that went up, 
in which the parson heartily joined, though 
so cleverly “sold out” by the Scotch- 
American. 

Father appreciated dry humor so well 
that he laughed over this incident whenever 
he thought of it long afterward. He told it 
to mother in the presence of the minister, 
who stayed over night with us on this occa- 
sion, and even she laughed, though she said 
she was afraid it was almost sacrilege. 

After the merriment had subsided the 
men returned to their work in high spirits, 
and when the sun went down and they had 
finished their task, Mac said : 

“Well, boys, it’s time — to knock off 
again; let me blow the trumpet!” 

The air was still, except for the songs of 
the locusts and the forest birds. The 
thrush gave forth its peculiar low, vibrat- 
ing cry ; the partridge was whistling to its 
mate; the sun-down birds were uttering 
their lonesome calls ; the whippoorwill sig- 
naled the nearby evening shades; while 
others of the little feathered natives were 
chirping and flitting about, selecting their 


FLORIDA WILDS 


31 


shelter for the coming night. Across the 
broad prairie could be seen the dark out- 
line of the great forest on the western side, 
behind which the sun had disappeared, and 
the bluish atmosphere throughout this wide 
expanse seemed peculiarly susceptible to 
the slightest sound. 

McLeod took down his glistening horn, 
with its green cord and tassels, held it 
under the spout of the spring, letting the 
limpid waters pass down its throat, and 
out again, washing away any possible 
dust, and then he lifted the pretty dripping 
thing again to his lips. 

Blast followed blast in quick succession, 
and as these were caught up and conveyed 
away through the softly yielding air, he 
concluded with one long, loud, lingering 
wail, more and more plaintive, falling 
lower and lower, till, at the close, it died 
away in gentlest cadence scarcely audible 
to the nearest ear. 

The men gathered around him seemed 
spellbound, listening with delight, while 
they exchanged glances with one another. 

The stillness was not broken save by the 
musical echoes, until McLeod almost rever- 
ently lowered the instrument from his lips 
and murmured in a stammering soliloquy : 

Golly! I got — a sweet mouth for a 
hawn!’^ 


A DAY OF EAEE SPOET AND AN 
EXCITING CONCLUSION 


Coming home on one occasion in such a 
disturbed state of mind as may occur in 
any business life, I needed diversion, and 
it was in store for me. Early the next 
morning I rose, got a lunch by candle-light, 
and stepping out into the yard blew my 
horn for McLeod, who lived less than half 
a mile away. The answer came back 
promptly in its sweet, soft wail, and a few 
minutes later we had joined each other, 
and were on our way, taking only my fa- 
mous deer dog. Spot. 

Our destination was Bear’s Creek, which, 
three miles away, was the outlet of the 
prairies in Big Forest, and flowed toward 
the sea. 

Having discovered the ‘‘deer sign,” I 
sent McLeod a few hundred yards farther 
to take a stand, while I remained behind, 
encouraging the dog as he followed the 
trail into the scrub. This was a dense oak 
thicket, a quarter of a mile in width — the 
same on each side of the creek. The idea 
was that the deer, when aroused, would 

32 


FLOEIDA WILDS 33 

either run back up the creek, from whence 
we had come, when I was to ‘^head them 
otf ^ ^ and get a shot, or they would run down 
and out by McLeod, who was ready to meet 
them. 

In due course of time the dog cried out 
loudly and rapidly, and the greatest pos- 
sible commotion occurred in the bushes 
near the bank of the stream. I knew the 
deer had been started from their lair, and 
by the direction taken it was plain they 
were going out by McLeod. 

In less than two minutes, bang! bang! 
sounded his double-barrel gun in quick suc- 
cession, and I dashed on down beside the 
scrub to where he stood, trembling with 
excitement. These are the most exciting 
moments of the deer hunt, and my own 
blood was up to the highest heat. 

‘^What did you doV’ 1 demanded. 

‘^Ay golly!’’ exclaimed my half-Scotch- 
man, ‘‘I turned up two — of the white bel- 
lies, and if I had had another gun— I’d 
a-turned up another.” 

‘ ^ Were there three T ’ I asked quickly. ^ 

^‘Yes, ay golly! an’ you see — that saplin’ 
up there on that hill?” 

‘‘Yes, what about that?” in hot haste. 

“Well, the third deer was so scared— he 
jumped over that hill — an’ over that sap- 
iin’, too— plumb over the whole business!” 


34 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


The hill was about twenty feet high and 
the sapling about thirty, but I did not stop 
to parley with him about the third deer 
leaping fifty feet high in the air — I wanted 
to see the other two that had been ‘‘turned 
up.’’ 

‘ ‘ Where are the two you killed?’ ’ I asked. 

‘ ‘ Ay golly ! — they run off ! ” he said. 

“The devil they did!” I exclaimed, in 
my surprise and excitement, forgetting my 
Sunday-school manners. 

‘ ‘ Show me where they fell I ” I hotly com- 
manded. 

‘ ‘ Here ’s where one^ — of ’em hit the dirt, ’ ’ 
he said, pointing to the deep imprint in the 
sand, where one had evidently fallen. 

All this had been done in a few moments, 
and the dog had arrived by this time. 

“Here, Spot!” I called, pointing to the 
place, which also showed stains of blood. 
Spot took the trail of the wounded deer 
with the greatest alacrity and darted im- 
mediately back into the scrub toward the 
creek, yelping at every jump, and I dashed 
with headlong recklessness after him under 
or through the stiff bushes, as they ob- 
stinately blocked my way. The deer and 
the dog soon reached the creek and swam 
across, and went tearing their way down 
the other side. When I came to the creek — 
a dark, deep stream, some thirty feet be- 


FLORIDA WILDS 35 

tween steep banks— fortunately a tree bad 
fallen across, long before, and afforded me 
a foot-log, which I ran over like a wildcat, 
and plunged into the thicket on the other 
side. 

Guided by the yelping of my dog I took 
the same direction he had gone with the 
game, and after a run of another half mile 
found they had crossed the creek again, and 
the dog had brought the deer to bay on the 
other side. This time no foot-log was in 
sight, and I could not well swim the stream 
and keep my gun dp^. Rushing along the 
bank, however, looking for some means of 
crossing, I discovered a leaning oak which 
grew on my side and bent half way across 
the water. 

Losing no time, I scaled this tree like a 
squirrel, carrying my gun up with me, and 
found that by leaping in an oblique direc- 
tion, some twenty feet, I could reach the 
other bank. Quick as thought I poised on 
a springing limb, made the leap, and rushed 
on after the game, which I found fighting 
the dog ; and on my approach, in its desper- 
ation, it lowered its great antlers and 
charged at me. A shot from my gun, how- 
ever, dispatched it, and then I heard Mc- 
Leod yell in the distance behind. 

I answered him and waited until he had 


36 


FLORIDA WILDS 


reached the creek, some fifty yards away, 
when he whooped again. 

‘ ‘ Come over ! ^ ’ I shouted. 

‘‘I can’t git — over!” he answered back. 

‘‘Wait,” I said, “and I’ll come and show 
you how I got over.” 

“I see that — ^now,” he replied. 

‘ ‘ How was it ? ” I asked. 

“You climbed this tree' — and jumped 
out. ’ ’ 

“Well, you do the same!” 

‘ ‘ Ay golly ! I — can ’t do it ! ” 

“Why?” 

“I’m too heavy — it would kill me!” 

“Wait till I come,” I said, and hurried 
down to the bank of the creek. 

“Take the caps otf your gun,” I com- 
manded, and he obeyed. 

“Now, pitch it across to me.” 

He did so, and I caught it. 

“Now climb that tree and jump out!” I 
ordered, peremptorily. 

My Scotchman was rather a novice in 
such experiences, and we older hunters, 
though younger in years, were accustomed 
to assume an authority of manner in emer- 
gencies, which beginners seemed instinc- 
tively to obey. 

I hastily returned to the dog and deer, 
and presently I heard a heavy thud and a 
big grunt, and I called out : 


FLORIDA WILDS 37 

‘‘Did you get over?’’ 

“Yes!’’ tie answered, in a distressed 
tone. “But, ay golly, it mos’ — ^mos’ — ^bust 
me open!’’ 

When he came up, however, and saw the 
fine deer he forgot his jolt, and, looking at 
me with a perplexed face, he asked: 

“How could you run through — them 
bushes that way ? ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Oh, ’ ’ I said, “I’m used to it ; why didn ’t 
you follow me?” 

“Ay golly! I couldn’t; I went round — ^by 
the bridge.” 

He then turned to the dog and said, as he 
patted him on the head : 

“Spot, old fellow — ay golly — I didn’t 
know you and Eddie — ^was sich — dogs as 
that!” 

Having prepared the deer, I took it 
across my back, the skins of the legs strap- 
ped over my shoulders, and we went back 
to the creek ; walking along the bank until 
we found a log lying across, I said : 

“Now, Mac, you have got to take this 
deer across.” 

“Why?” he asked. 

“Because you are stronger than I, and I 
have had the most of the trouble with it.” 

“Ay golly! I expect it’s because — ^you 
are afraid you’ll fall in!” 

“Well, maybe I might.” 


38 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


‘^S’pose, then, ay golly! — I should fall 

^‘That wouldn’t make so much differ- 
ence.” 

^ ‘ I ’d like to know — why ? ’ ’ 

‘‘Because you are a novice, and need the 
experience, and I don’t.” 

“What kind — of experience!” 

“Falling into a creek and getting out.” 

‘ ‘ Did you ever — do it ! ” 

“Many a time.” 

“What good did it — do you!” 

“Taught me how to keep from falling 
in.” 

“An’ you think I ought — to learn how!” 

“If you are going to hunt with me, you 
ought.” 

“Ay golly! I think — so, too; give me 
here — that deer!” 

Just as he started on the log, which 
swayed down to the surface of the water, 
I said: 

“Now, if an alligator should smell the 
blood ” 

“Golly!” he exclaimed, as he hastened 
to the other side. 

At the same time I threw an old limb 
into the water with a splash behind him, 
and, with a yell like an Indian savage, he 
made a desperate leap for the bank, which 
he reached in safety. His great strength 


FLORIDA WILDS 39 

had served him well. Turning around he ex- 
claimed, excitedly: 

‘‘Where’s that darned — ’gator?” 

When he saw I was laughing, he under- 
stood and said : 

“Well, ay golly! you — scared me!” 

“Well, let’s hang that deer up now,” I 
said, as I crossed over, “and go back for 
the other one. ’ ’ 

“Do you think — ^we can git — the other?” 
he asked. 

“Got to get him,” I said. 

“Well, ay golly! — I’ll go with you!” 

We bent down a strong, tall sapling, and 
hung the deer near the top so that when the 
young tree swung back it carried the deer 
high enough to keep it from the wolves. 

This done, we recrossed the creek on our 
foot-log, and hurried back to where the 
other was shot. Spot immediately took the 
trail, and away we went again, Spot and I ; 
Mac was lost sight of. Into the densest of 
the thicket the dog and deer led the way, 
and I followed, like an Indian. I was 
never happier than on an exciting chase 
like this, and never was I more in need of 
excitement and diversion than just then. 
Any adventure, it seemed to me no matter 
how desperate, would be welcome to turn 
my mind away from its burdens ; anything 


40 


FLORIDA WILDS 


but this intense thinking and planning 
would be a relief — a rest ! 

These thoughts had scarcely darted 
through my mind as I rushed madly 
through the thicket, when, as if in response 
to my thirst for adventure, a terrible rattle- 
snake rose suddenly before me, licking out 
its black, forked tongue and creating a din 
in my ears by the ominous sound of its 
rattles. It was ready to deal me death at 
a stroke; and one more step forward I 
would have been a dead man. But Provi- 
dence saved me — I saw it in time to stop 
my reckless career and fling myself back- 
ward out of its reach. 

I could not have asked for a more excit- 
ing moment than this, or any narrower es- 
cape with my life. Of all things on the 
earth which my soul absolutely abhorred, 
there was nothing so revolting as a snake, 
and the revulsion that came over me broke 
the strain that had so long been on my 
mind. When the startling effect was over 
I felt as if the shock had atforded me a 
sense of relief. But I lost scarcely a mo- 
ments time^ — I was determined to have my 
game. So, quickly drawing my revolver, I 
shot the vile reptile through the neck, and 
pushed on with more vigor, if possible, than 
ever and with a lighter heart — a curious 


FLOEIDA WILDS 41 

but happy effect following the ugly inci- 
dent. 

I found a foot-log again this time, and 
my guardian angel, seeming to have noted 
the good results just mentioned, decided to 
let me enjoy a little more such loathsome 
experience. Just as I stepped on the foot- 
log I saw, a few feet ahead of me, a large, 
slimy, villainous-looking water-moccasin, 
with uplifted head and forked tongue, 
ready to dispute my passage I 

Another pistol-hall sent it wriggling into 
the depths below, and again I plunged for- 
ward into the thickets, following the dog 
and deer which had crossed and gone up 
in the opposite direction from the other. If 
I had been in an ordinary frame of mind 
these horrible snake adventures would have 
driven me from the chase. But they could 
not stop me now. 

The deer was badly wounded; the dog 
had it down when I came up — the hunting- 
knife being suflScient to finish the work. 

This happened to be near the bridge, so 
McLeod reached the scene a little later 
without difficulty. 

‘‘Well, ay golly!’’ he said, “Eddie, if I 
was a deer — I would just as soon — ^have 
the devil hisself after me as you — and 
Spot!” 

It was now sundown. I left McLeod with 


42 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


the deer, and hurried home for a horse and 
cart. By the time I made the trip of three 
miles and returned, the darkness of a 
stormy night had set in, and we could not 
find the other deer, which was nearly a mile 
farther away in the woods. 

So we took the one in hand to McLeod ^s 
home and agreed that I would return for 
the other in the morning. I was afraid my 
parents would object to this, as the next 
day would be Sunday ; but as they had re- 
tired when I reached home, I said nothing 
of my plans. The next morning I started 
with horse and cart before dawn, and know- 
ing it was always wise to be prepared for 
any emergency when going into those wild 
woods, I took my gun, dog, and revolver 
along, notwithstan&ng the sacredness of 
the day. 

There had been a great storm of wind 
and rain during the night, a fine time for 
wolves to prowl about, and as I had left 
my deer near the junction of two creeks, a 
place known to be infested by these ani- 
mals, I felt not a little anxious as to its fate. 

Upon arriving within a mile of the place, 
before the shades of night had passed 
away, my apprehensions were increased as 
I heard in the distance the howling and 
barking of those nocturnal demons. They 
had scented the blood and evidently had 


FLORIDA WILDS 43 

gone to the attack. I pressed on, not so 
anxious for the safety of my venison as I 
was impatient for another adventure. 

Dawn began to appear just as I arrived 
within a hundred yards of the place, and 
the hideous wretches, with their fierce cries, 
were making a loud noise, savage and ter- 
rible. 

I stopped, unhitched my horse — ^which 
was one of a pair of trained cattle ponies, 
that had grown up within the last three 
years — ^mounted him bareback, and, with 
my revolver at my belt, my gun in one hand 
and reins in the other, I determined on a 
charge. 

I ordered Spot to stay behind, as I could 
not risk his life in this fierce battle with his 
distant cousins. My pony was nervous and 
did not seem inclined to approach the scene 
of such ominous howling and fury. But he 
had been with me in so many dangers, and 
had come through unharmed, that a few 
kind words and a little patting on the neck 
reassured him. 

When I gave him rein and urged him for- 
ward he dashed at the top of his speed, with 
a seeming war-like spirit. The woods were 
all open up to the edge of the scrub in 
which we had hung the deer. There was 
just light enough for me to see the dark 
bodies of the black, maddened creatures. 


44 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


running in and out of the scrub, as I 
charged toward their gang at that headlong 
rate. When within fifty feet of them I let 
go my bridle reins, raised my gun and fired 
both barrels into the dark mass before me, 
and recovering the gun, drew my revolver, 
reined in my horse, and paused to see the 
effect. 

The red-mouthed devils, so intent on se- 
curing the prey, or so enraged over their 
failure and loud in their noise, had not no- 
ticed the thunder of my horse’s feet or seen 
my approach; but the double explosion of 
my gun so near to them, the flashes in the 
early dawn, and smell of gunpowder, sud- 
denly revealed to them an unexpected con- 
dition of things. Violently startled, they 
ceased their howls and seemed in great con- 
fusion, but, huddled close together and 
with fearful snarls, appeared undecided 
whether to attack me or flee. 

Just at that instant the keen crack of a 
rifle rang out from the other side of the 
gang, quickly followed by the belching roar 
of a double-barrel gun. This was too much 
for the cowardly creatures ; they were at- 
tacked on two sides, and the last from the 
thicket by a hidden foe; so they immedi- 
ately took to their heels in the wildest 
fright. 


FLOEIDA .WILDS 45 

In another moment a familiar voice 
called out from the scrub; 

“Hello, Edvin, by granny! they were 
sort o’ crowdin’ ye, ol’ feller, wa’n’t they?” 
and Old Hugh and Bud stepped out. 

After a hearty hand-shake with each 
other we looked over the battlefield, and 
not less than five wolves lay dead, one for 
each shot that had been fired, while traces 
of blood in ditferent directions showed that 
others had been wounded. 

“Waal, Edvin, tell us erbout yer hunt; 
fur this mus’ be yer deer; I see ye fetched 
yer kyart to haul hit home. Good thing 
thet saplin’ carried hit s’ high when hit 
swung up ergin.” 

And then I detailed the thrilling experi- 
ences of the day before, to the great de- 
light of my Cracker friends. 

‘ ^ But how came you here ? ” I asked. 

“Waal, we hearn them varmints er 
howlin’ all night — ^ye see hit’s unly erbout 
er mile ter whar we live. An’ ’way in ther 
night, es I couldn’t sleep, I calls an’ says, 
‘Oh, Bud-erl’ an’ he says, ‘What is hit, 
paw?’ An’ I says, ‘Let’s me an’ you go 
down before ther crack o’ day an’ see what 
them creeturs is er makin’ all thet racket 
erbout. I can’t sleep one bit ner grain.’ 
‘Ner me, neither,’ says Bud, an’ he wished 
hit were time ter go right et thet minit. 


46 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


‘‘So ’twixt thet time an’ day, I tuk my 
oP rifle, an’ he tuk his ol shotgun, an’ we 
lit out f er ther kermotion. An ’ I ’m pow ’f ul 
glad we come, fur, by granny, Edvin, I 
b’lieve if we hadn’t er fired jest when we 
did, them devils would er tore right at ye 
an’ yer horse, an’ er chawed ye both up. I 
never hev hearn tell uv ’em jumpin’ on er 
human kin’ in this country, but they looked 
this mawnin’ pine-blank like they hed er 
min’ ter.” 

“I had six more bullets for them, though. 
Uncle Hugh,” I said, showing my revolver. 

‘ ‘ Yes, by granny ! an ’ ye would er fetched 
down six more uv ’em, too, ther way ye 
shoots er pistol. Still, hit ’d been er resk, 
ol’ fellow, an’ I’d ’vise ye not ter be too 
much uv er dare-devil in runnin’ ergin 
some uv these varmints ; some day ye might 
git iuter trouble. I know by ’sperience thet 
some uv ’em’s dang’rous.” 


PLANTATION SCENES AND 
INCIDENTS 

Our negroes were all on excellent terms 
with their kind master and mistress. Of 
the two men, one, Nicholas, the elder, was 
self-opinionated and over-bearing. The 
other, Pinckney, much younger, was a loud- 
mouthed, happy-spirited fellow, who fret- 
ted to some extent under the domineering 
spirit of the elder. 

Nicholas stuttered somewhat, and this 
was a source of amusement to Pinckney, 
which, in turn, irritated the other, and pos- 
sibly caused him to assume more reserve 
and superiority toward the younger man 
than he otherwise would have done. 

One day father sent a message to Nicho- 
las by Pinckney, and the latter probably 
manifested by his tone a little exultation 
over the fact that an order had been trans- 
mitted through him from the master to his 
senior. On the other hand, the old fellow 
wished to impress the disrespectful junior 
with the idea that he, in his superior wis- 
dom, always anticipated the master’s wants 

47 


48 FLOEIDA WILDS 

and did not need any instruction through 
him. So when the order was delivered he 
exclaimed, in a very indignant tone : 

‘‘Aw, Pinckney, boy, don^ tell me! Don^ 
tellme^ Don’ I ImowT^ 

Pinckney stuck out his thick lips, an un- 
failing sign of displeasure on the part of a 
negro, and sulkily retorted: 

“Well, de boss toP me to tell you dat.” 

“Yes, but you aPays tryin’ ter tell me 
sump’n w’en I know.” 

“W’at I mus’ do, den, w’en ole marster 
sen’ you word by me?” 

“Go ’long ’bout yo’ bus ’ness. He didn’ 
mean dat for me; he was tellin’ you — I al- 
ready knows ! ’ ’ 

“Well, ’low me ter know sumpin’, too!” 
exclaimed Pinckney, sticking out his lips 
still farther and passing on. 

He had his satisfaction a few days later. 
He was riding his plow mule home from the 
field one night, and Nicholas was riding an- 
other, a mare mule, behind him. Along the 
way the mare mule became frightened at 
something, or nothing, squatted and 
.iumped, mule fashion, coming entirely out 
from under the old darky, seating him 
down in the road, and dashing ahead. 

“Whoa!” shouted Pinckney, trying to 
stop her. 


FLOEIDA WILDS 49 

‘^Let she go!’’ the old fellow called out, 
and then came on afoot. 

/'Is you hu% Unc' Nich’lisT’ asked 
Pinckney. 

"No, I ain’t hu’t; but like de ole nigger 
back in Georgy say, 'Dat’s w’at makes me 
’spise a mule I’ ” 

"Well, Unc’ Nich’lis, if you’d cuss her 
like me, she wouldn’t do you dat way.” 

"G’long, boy, you can’ tell me nuttin’ I 
don ’t know ’bout a mule ! ’ ’ 

Pinckney rode on, chuckling to himself : 

"Dat o’ mar’ mule done tol’ ’im sumpin’ 
dat time he didn’ know, w’en she sot ’im 
down in de san’, anyhow!” 

Nicholas was disposed to be pious, and 
possessing a fine voice, with the negro’s 
usual ear for music, us^ to lead the sing- 
ing at the "meetin’s” on Sundays, and by 
his affected dignity exercised much influ- 
ence, and was regarded with no little rever- 
ence by the religious assembly. Pinckney 
was more worldly minded and disposed to 
make fun of the sanctimonious demeanor 
of "Unc’ Nich’lis” and the gestures of the 
shouting women. 

The custom of the faithful Southern 
Methodist circuit-rider in those days was to 
hold a Sunday afternoon service exclu- 
sively for the negroes on each of his 
monthly visits. This was done in the same 


50 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


church building which the whites occupied 
morning and evening of the same day. This 
may be a surprise to many of the readers of 
‘‘Uncle Tom^s Cabin and other literature 
of later date, founded on prejudices, or ig- 
norance, or political purpose. These have 
believed, or atfected to believe, that the old 
slave-holders and their families would have 
considered themselves defiled if they had 
occupied seats in church alternately with 
the negroes. And yet this was common in 
the rural districts of the South, where the 
negroes seldom had “meeting houses’’ of 
their own. The traveling preachers — 
Southern white men — labored as zealously 
for the good of their souls as for the souls 
of their white brethren, often aided by the 
presence and prayers of pious slave-owners 
themselves. Be it remembered further that 
this service was rendered free — there was 
no missionary appropriation in this case; 
nor did the preacher take up a collection 
from these dependent people. 

In another part of Big Forest, some five 
or six miles away, there were some large 
plantations, and the negroes from these 
used to come in great numbers to “meet- 
ing” in our neighborhood. These were sea- 
sons of great religious enjoyment to Nicho- 
las, while they were gala days to the unre- 
generate Pinckney. 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


51 


‘^Pinck,’’ as the boys called him, was, 
however, a fellow of impulse. Sometimes 
he would come with us children and the 
younger negroes into mother’s home Sun- 
day-school, joining in the religious services 
and seeming to enjoy them very much. But 
the next morning, perhaps, he would be 
shocking Uncle Nicholas in the field by 
swearing at his mule. This matter finally 
came to father ’s ears, and Pinckney was re- 
buked and ordered to desist. 

“But, boss,” he said, respectfully, “I 
can’ make de mule min’, ’nless I do dat.” 

“Yes, but that is wrong and sinful,” said 
father, ‘ ^ and you must stop it. ’ ’ 

“I dunno how I gwine to plow, den.” 
“Why not? You never hear me swear 
when I am plowing. ’ ’ 

“No, sah ; but you plows a boss. A mule 
is diff’ent; I’d ruther plow a mule ’n a 
boss, ’cause he’s studdier; but den I have 
to cuss ’im.” 

“Why do you have to curse him?” 
“’Cause, boss, it’s dess like I tell you. 
You wants your work done right, an’ de 
mule, he won’t do right, ’nless I cuss him.” 

“Well, you must stop it,” said father, 
“ or I shall have to punish you ; I can’t have 
any swearing on the place. ’ ’ 

Pinck went off, muttering to himself. 
“Well, I dunno w’at I gwine do den. 


52 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


’cause I nebber kin make a mule min’ me if 
I don’ cuss ’im.” 

He was naturally jolly, however, and 
never allowed so serious a matter as an 
order against his profane indulgence to 
worry him long. 

But, like his race, his moods varied. 
Negroes like to sing when at work, or when 
going to and from their labors. Sometimes 
they give way to a joyous impulse and in- 
dulge in a few snatches of lively song; but 
they are never so supremely happy as when 
carried away into a state of mind oblivious 
to anything but a sensation of mournful- 
ness, induced by some sad tune, which they 
suit to any words, no matter how incon- 
gruous. 

I remember, when a child, I one day 
asked my old nurse, as she toiled over her 
work, why she sang in so doleful a way. 

‘ ‘ Law, chile, ’ ’ she said, ‘ ‘ I dunno ; I dess 
feels good w’en I sings dat way, honey.” 

Pinck was no exception to the rule. Our 
farm lay on a point of land that extended 
out into the broad prairie, before described 
as the center of Big Forest, and was 
bounded on the north, west and south by 
this treeless expanse. Great walls of for- 
est trees loomed up on the opposite sides in 
all directions, and gave back echoes of any 
loud sound that occurred in our locality. 


FLOEIDA WILDS 53 

After the day’s labor was done and 
Pinck started home from his work, he used 
to delight to give forth a prolonged whoop 
and listen to the sound as it traveled in un- 
dulations across, and then to the echo as it 
was repeated to him at intervals from the 
three directions indicated. This he would 
do again several times, and next sing a few 
words, and listen to them on their wavy 
flight to the other side, and then to their 
musical return, as they seemed caught, 
trembling from the air, and wafted back to 
him by some unknown nymphs on the dis- 
tant shores. His powerful voice could send 
forth volumes of sound, the sadder the 
sweeter ; and, regardless of sense, or mean- 
ing, the floating melodies and plaintive ech- 
oes afforded sufficient delight to his simple 
soul. 

One of his habits on these occasions was 
to place his fingers in his ears and sing out 
loudly and yet wistfully, prolonging the 
last words of the line as long as his breath 
would hold out : 



54 


FLORIDA WILDS 


His object in putting his fingers in his 
ears seemed to be to soften to his own 
senses the first loud outburst that came 
from his throat, and then removing them, 
he would listen with evident pleasure to 
the harmony of the gentler sounds rolling 
away and to the echoes that came again. 

Following this he would suddenly break 
into a lively mood and sing gaily : 

‘ ‘ 0 carry me back, 0 carry me back 
To OP Ferginiya’s shore 

These and other snatches would take up 
his time until he would find himself on the 
road far into the deep forest. It was a mile 
and a half he would have to travel, and in 
the dense darkness of the way he would feel 
superstitious, and grow pious. To keep his 
courage up he would then indulge in religi- 
ous songs he had learned at church, ^‘giv- 
ing out,’’ as was the negro custom, two 
lines at a time, as though he were repeating 
them to a congregation, and then singing 
devoutly to scare away the ghosts, and 
loudly to frighten off the ‘‘varmints.” 

There was no public grist-mill in that 
new country, and the rule was to have the 
corn necessary for bread ground by one 
of the men at night in a hand-mill, requir- 
ing about an hour’s work. When his time 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


55 


came to grind, Pinckney always accom- 
panied the work with songs, nsually of a 
solemn character, though occasionally he 
would intersperse his program with some- 
thing lively. 

One of his favorite hymns on these occa- 
sions was one to which the negroes seemed 
to be especially partial, probably on ac- 
count of its unqualified solemnity. It was 
an old funeral hymn, well known, and be- 
gins: ‘^Hark! from the tombs a doleful 
sound. Pinck would pause occasionally 
at his task, and with stentorian voice re- 
peat two lines at a time in a most awfully 
grave manner. Hear him : 

‘‘Hark! from you tombs, you doleful soun’. 

Mine yers atten’ de cry!’’ 

This was sung very slowly and sadly to 
the good old tune of Hear; and the next 
two lines would follow : 

“Ye livin’ men come view de groun’ 

Y^ar you mus’ shortly lie.” 

Then, perhaps. He would break off sud- 
denly and in the merriest tone sing: 

“I’ll bet my money on a bob-tail Boss, 
Tu-daii, tu-daE; 


56 FLORIDA WILDS 

I’ll bet my money on a bob-tail boss, 
Tu-dab, tu-dab day!” 

Besides bis pensive and frivolous moods, 
be would sometimes grow sentimental over 
a damsel wbo was now in ber teens and 
did tbe cooking and laundry work at this 
time. 

Sbe was not disposed to encourage 
Pinck’s advances, especially when sbe was 
busy. Leaving bis band-mill for a moment 
one nigbt, be came into tbe kitchen where 
tbe girl, Amy, was cooking supper, and wbo 
happened to be quite out of patience over a 
hot, blazing fire in an old-fashioned broad 
fireplace; for stoves were not in use among 
us in those days. 

Pinck, thinking only of tbe tender pas- 
sion that was ‘^tearing bis aching breast,” 
and impatient to open his heart to Ms 
charmer, pronounced her name in a soft, 
sentimental manner, lingering affection- 
ately on the first syllable: 

^‘A-a-my.” 

fired tbe young cook back at 

him. 

That changed Pinck ’s mood instantly, 
and kindled a sort of injured indignation 
within him. 

‘‘Look er yer, gal,” he angrily retorted, 
“w’en I calls you, don’ you say ^what^V^ 


FLOEIDA WILDS 57 

W’at I gwine to say, denr^ impatiently 
demanded the dusky denizen of the kitchen, 
as she rolled the whites of her black eyes 
in an angry flash at him, and pushed some 
live coals under the gridiron. 

‘‘W’en I calls you,’’ returned the 
wounded lover, in a rebuking tone, ^‘you 
answer me suh!'' 

‘‘I ain’t gwine do it!” she snapped, stir- 
ring up the roaring Are. 

‘‘Well, den, if you can’ be more ’spectful, 
don’ you speak to me ag’in. You talks like 
you ain’t had no raisin’!” 

“My raisin’ ’s good as yo’n, an’ you’ll 
talk diff’nt from dat w’en you wants yo’ 
supper.” Pinck appreciated the implied 
threat and withdrew to his mill just out- 
side. He did not dare provoke the cook any 
further if there was danger of losing his 
supper. Still, he would like to make her 
believe he thought her “raisin’ ” had been 
quite deficient, and thus humble her a little. 
So he gave out to himself in pathetic tones, 
and sang. 



“O par • ’nts, how c’nye stan’ to bar, 



To raise yo’ chil - dem hy - - - ar ’doutpra’rf” 


58 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


Then forgetting the rest of the words, he 
started his mill again and ground away 
some time in silence. Now thinking some- 
thing more solemn, hinting at death, if not 
suicide, might have a better etfect, he stop- 
ped the mill and turned himself in the dark 
so that his voice would penetrate the 
kitchen, and in slow, deep, sepulchral tones 
repeated : 

‘‘Go dig my grave bofe wide an’ deep; 

Put marbel stones t’ my head an’ feeet,’* 

and sang these words to the same dismal 
tune. 

He had run out of words again, but he 
was looking in unseen, to discover what 
effect these had produced on Amy. 

She had, however, been so busy taking up 
supper that she had paid no attention to 
him. The odor of the hot com bread and 
broiled beef reached his olfactories, and he 
concluded he would do well to get that sup- 
per before he twitted the cook any more 
about her “raisin’,” or descended into his 
“grave bofe wide an’ deep.” 

After supper he came back to his mill, 
with his happy spirit fully restored, and as 
he smacked his lips and thought of the old 
stock-raising country from whence he had 
come, he burst out singing. 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


59 



“ Fried beef - steak and mnt - ton chop 



Make a nig - ger mouf go flip, flip, flop!” 


We of the South are glad the institution 
of slavery is gone forever, but many pleas- 
ant memories to black and white cling 
around the old plantation life, and tender is 
the relation that still exists between the 
few ex-masters that survive and their 
former aged slaves. 


LOST AND AN AWFUL ENCOUNTER 


It was late in the afternoon. I had de- 
termined on a quiet wild turkey hunt, and 
wandering far into the forest alone, ex- 
pected presently to hear the great birds fly 
up to the tree-tops, seeking their perches 
for the night. 

No such sound greeted my ears, however, 
and not being willing to return utterly luck- 
less, I pressed on farther and farther. 

But the sun went down ; the shade became 
very dense ; twilight faded suddenly ; night 
came on, and realizing that it was useless 
to pursue the hunt longer, I turned and 
started for home. 

Very soon I was aware that the trail I 
had expected to find was not at hand ; and 
the more I searched for it the more sure I 
was of no trail at all. The darkness was 
intense now under the great trees that shut 
out the light of the heavens. I had been ac- 
customed to traveling in the woods at night 
by the position of certain stars ; and look- 
ing up through the foliage, I succeeded, 
after repeated eiforts, in discovering my 


FLOEIDA WILDS 61 

guides and took my course east, as I had 
intended to go. 

Presently I realized that I was not mak- 
ing the progress I had expected in extri- 
cating myself ; and finding the stars again, 
I saw that I had been going west instead 
of east ! I again regulated my course, with 
the same result, and this was repeated sev- 
eral times. Then it was that I reluctantly 
admitted to myself that I was lost. It is a 
strange fact that when one is lost he is sure 
to go in an opposite direction to the course 
he wishes to pursue. 

There were some alligator holes here and 
there in the lower swamp into which I had 
unintentionally wandered. Into one of 
these I tumbled up to my waist; but, for- 
tunately, the saurian was not at home, or, 
at least, did not respond to my splash at his 
door. It was a frosty night, and, of course, 
I was quite cold in my wet clothes. I was 
entirely alone in these far-away recesses, 
miles from any human habitation, so if I 
had raised an alarm it would not have been 
heard. Besides, I was unwilling, after my 
boasted skill as a woodsman, to humiliate 
myself by calling for help out of my pre- 
dicament. 

I knew that the moon would rise at 
twelve o’clock, hence I determined to wait 
for that beacon light and steer directly for 


62 


FLORIDA WILDS 


it; though I realized that I would not be 
able to divest myself of the feeling that I 
would be going west instead of east, so 
completely turned was my head. By this 
time I was very chilly, and fired my gun 
into the end of a rotten log I chanced to get 
my hands upon, hoping the flash would set 
it on fire. When this failed, I reloaded and 
settled myself down on a pile of dead moss 
I stumbled against, near the root of a great 
oak tree. There I sat to wait for the moon, 
and tried to get myself warm in the moss 
bed, knowing, as it was early in the evening, 
I would have to stay there for several 
hours. 

Once fixed in my place, I had ample op- 
portunity to listen to such sounds and to 
realize such stillness as alone can be found 
in the depths of a great forest at night. 
There is something akin to awe in the sen- 
sation inspired by such a situation ; and it 
increases as the hours advance. 

For a time there was not a breath of air 
stirring, and, except the falling of leaves, 
the chirping of crickets, and the continual 
din of frogs in the surrounding prairies — 
sounds peculiar to night and seeming to 
make part of the night itself and add to its 
solemnity — the silence was oppressive. 

I was well equipped, but, notwithstand- 
ing my firearms and conscious skill in their 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


63 


use, the sense of loneliness, almost of help- 
lessness, in the darkness, if I should be at- 
tacked hj any ferocious prowler of the 
night, crept over me. I wondered if my 
oft-tested courage was deserting me, or 
whether there was some real danger ap- 
proaching. 

Just then a light breeze sprang up and 
rustled through the tops of the great oaks, 
while one lone pine, towering above the 
other trees, moaned ominously in the night 
wind. The leaves fell like a gentle rain 
around me, succeeding the passing breeze ; 
the tree-tops became steady again, and the 
moaning of the pine ceased. Oh, that awful 
silence ! It oppresses me still to think of it ! 
My breath came and went inaudibly, so in- 
tently was I listening for something — I 
knew not what. 

At that moment, as if in response to my 
nervous apprehension, a most piercing 
shriek, like the hopeless cry of a lost spirit, 
rent the air in the great oak above my 
head ! My gun was cocked and my finger 
on the trigger in an instant, when another 
shriek followed, and another, and then a 
loud, horrid, demoniacal laugh, distress- 
ingly prolonged, ensued, succeeded by the 
dull flapping of wings. 

It was the great swamp owl. I was fa- 
miliar with the sound, and, at another time. 


64 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


when my nerves were not so strained, I 
would not have cared for it ; but those who 
have heard this ghostly looking bird at 
midnight, in the lonely depths of the forest, 
can appreciate the blood-curdling effect of 
its diabolical screech — so sudden, so start- 
ling — and that awful laugh, so human and 
yet so savage! 

The hour of twelve was approaching — I 
knew by the position of the seven stars of 
which 1 could get a glimpse through the 
leafy boughs overhead — ^but the light of the 
coming moon was not yet discernible. I was 
cold and shivering, and the chills the owl 
had sent over my back seemed to be still 
dancing up and down in mocking glee over 
my spinal column. But the awful stillness 
again reigned. My nervous impatience to 
be up and getting away from my dismal 
surroundings could not hasten the speed 
of the moon — I was still lost — so there was 
naught to do but to wait. 

I waited and waited, but could not get 
rid of that sense — ^which sometimes seems 
mysteriously to oppress one — of some com- 
ing unknown danger. I tried to shake it 
off, and make myself believe that it all 
arose from the lost feeling and loneliness 
in that impenetrable darkness, augmented, 
perhaps, by the owl episode. All reason- 
ing, however, seemed to increase my dread 


FLOEIDA .WILDS 65 

rather than diminish it. I rose to my feet 
to make a closer examination of my sur- 
roundings.^ I thought if I had to have an 
encounter in the dark with an unknown as- 
sailant, I at least should have my back pro- 
tected, and this I thought the great oak 
would do if I braced myself against it. Ac- 
cordingly, I drew nearer the tree, feeling 
for its solid trunk with one hand, holding 
the gun with the other. 

Presently, by its black outline deepening 
the shadow before my eyes, I seemed to be 
near enough to touch it, but I could not 
feel it. I then put my gun forward, mov- 
ing it cautiously from side to side, when I 
struck some hard object on my left. Mov- 
ing the gun now toward the right several 
feet, I again struck a hard substance, while 
I could reach nothing immediately in front 
of me. 

It dawned upon me that the tree was hol- 
low and might afford me protection from 
all sides except the front, and I must de- 
pend upon my nerve and my faithful gun 
to do that, if worse came to the worst.’’ 

Before I could act on this idea, however, 
I became aware of a foul odor, as of car- 
rion, and advancing carefully and slightly 
forward, I was conscious that it issued 
from the hollow in the tree. I stepped on 
some hard, slippery objects, some of which 


66 FLORIDA WILDS 

cracked under my weight, and stooping 
down, felt about my feet with my hand and 
found that the floor of the cavity was 
strewed with bones, some fresh and sticky 
and others putrefying. 

In an instant I took in the situation, and 
realized to my horror that my intended fort 
for defense was itself the den of some beast 
of prey! 

There was not a moment to lose. The 
creature was away from home, but might 
return at any moment without warning; 
and I immediately stepped out, with the in- 
tention of changing my quarters quickly. 
Not knowing, however, but that I might 
walk into the jaws of death waiting for me 
close by, I paused to listen before starting 
on my stampede. I thought I heard a 
movement on the dry leaves not far away. 
I held my breath and listened more in- 
tently, my heart beating loudly against its 
ribbed walls. 

I was not mistaken — there were soft, cau- 
tious footsteps approaching! I was too 
late for flight, so better to stay with the 
hollow tree behind me, and defend myself 
from the front, than undertake to move out 
into the darkness, unprotected from any 
side. 

With practiced ear I could detect that 
there were three objects coming toward me, 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


67 


one heavy and two lighter treads. I di- 
vined at once that they were the mother 
and two young cubs. 

By this time they stopped. They must 
have been within thirty feet of me, but I 
could see nothing. A slight, very cautious 
movement from side to side told me that 
my presence had been discovered, and a 
reconnaissance was being made. Facing a 
dangerous wild beast in the dark would 
have been very serious under any circum- 
stances, but to be caught at the very den of 
one of these creatures accompanied by her 
young — the situation was fearful! 

Even domestic animals are often cross in 
the presence of their little ones when afraid 
of molestation, but an intruder into her 
home arouses the fierceness of the savage 
beast to its utmost fury, especially when 
her young offspring is by her side. 

I had cocked my revolver in my belt, and 
both barrels of my gun. A battle for life 
or death was now at hand and unavoidable 
— there was no possible escape. Cold sweat 
stood on my brow ; but my nerves were like 
iron. Strange how cool and collected one 
can become in the face of threatened death ! 
But now that the mysterious apprehension 
was over, and I realized the full character 
and magnitude of my danger, and had it 
before me, with a fighting chance for my 


68 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


life, there was not a tremor in my whole 
being. Indeed, it was well it was so: my 
life depended on the utmost self-possession 
and the coolest calculation. I knew as long 
as the enraged creature would stay on the 
ground I had some chance to protect my- 
self, keeping my gun to my shoulder and 
pointed toward the sound, moving the gun 
as the noise changed position from side to 
side. 

My hearing was acute and exceedingly 
well-trained to sounds in the woods ; and I 
was sure the panther (for that’s what it 
was!) was not yet in leaping distance. It 
was that stealthy and deadly leap through 
the darkness that I had reason to fear most. 

The cautious tread drew nearer. A low 
growl issued, now growing louder; the re- 
connoitering movements were more rapid; 
I thought I could see the terrible eyeballs 
glare; the kittens gave forth a frightened 
squall; the old she-devil uttered an awful 
scream, far exceeding the weird screech of 
the owl, and I knew this was my moment 1 1 
was sure in another second the furious 
wretch would spring upon me, so, before 
that prolonged cry had ceased in her angry 
throat, getting the direction accurately by 
the sound, I fired ! There was another loud 
howl of rage and pain and a fearful floun- 
dering and clawing among the bushes, to- 


FLORIDA WILDS 


69 


gether with terrible growls and snarls and 
indescribable noises, indicating the utmost 
ferocity. 

My gun was still in position and finger 
on the trigger; but I reserved the second 
barrel for desperate emergencies that 
might yet ensue. Finding, however, that 
the beast seemed to be disabled, and was 
not getting any nearer, I improved the op- 
portunity and took to my heels ! Another 
fierce cry from the howling wretch, and a 
fearful tearing and crashing of the bushes 
behind me, quickened my speed, for I 
thought the wounded demon was pursuing 
me! 

I did not yet intend to risk my other load 
unless I was compelled to do so, for the 
muzzle loaders of those days could not be 
prepared for action quickly, and I would 
have had to depend on my pistol. This 
sending only one ball at a time might miss 
the mark and leave me helpless. 

The moon was up now, and I struck a 
‘‘bee line’^ toward it, although I did seem 
to be going west instead of east. In a few 
moments, however, I came to a wide prairie 
which I recognized, the moon shining 
brightly across the expanse. In an instant 
all the world was “right side up” again, 
and I had no trouble in finding the trail 
that led me out of the forest. 


70 FLOEIDA [WILDS 

The howling and screeching of the 
wonnded panther had ceased, and, with an 
indescribable sense of relief I hurried on. 
I had never been in such terror before, or 
in such real danger; and I must confess I 
started at every noise I heard in the forest, 
and held my gun on the defensive until I 
escaped from the deep shade out into the 
open woods. 

The next day I visited the place. The 
big panther lay dead within a few yards of 
where she was shot. She had been distant 
from me about twenty feet ; and nearly the 
whole load had passed through the loins, 
disabling the hips, and indicating that the 
beast must have been rearing on its hind 
feet just as the shot was fired. The young 
cubs were soon caught by the dogs and 
killed. 


A STOBY OF STAETLING ADVEN- 
TURES 

CHAPTER I 

This was, indeed, to be Jackson’s day. 
All the vivid excitement and hairbreadth 
escapes in that wilderness were not to be 
mine. The country was so wild and so full 
of dangers that any one who wandered in 
the forest took risks upon himself and was 
liable to get into close places. 

I had, for a change, resolved on a still 
hunt that day, and Jackson had taken Spot, 
who was still active, and had gone on 
Bear’s Creek deer hunting. He was on 
horseback. The dog had entered the scrub, 
and he was guarding the open woods out- 
side. Presently old Spot cried out, and 
knowing the deer was up, he listened a mo- 
ment and discovered he would have to cross 
a neck of dense undergrowth that extended 
out from the main creek swamp, in order to 
head off the deer. Holding his cocked gun 
in one hand, and bridle rein in the other, he 
dashed his horse into the bushes and was 

71 


72 FLORIDA :WILDS 

half way across when a good Providence 
directed his eye to the ground in front of 
him, where lay a tremendons rattlesnake, 
coiled, with head uplifted, ready for fatal 
work. The horse was just in the act of 
leaping on the dreadful reptile, when the 
reins were jerked so violently backward 
that the animal reared on its haunches. My 
brother, with that consummate skill which 
characterizes only the experienced woods- 
rider, kept his place in the saddle, causing 
the horse to wheel before planting his fore- 
feet on the ground again. The next mo- 
ment he turned his gun upon the now thor- 
oughly aroused snake — vigorously sound- 
ing an awful alarm with its rattles and lick- 
ing out its black forked tongue with de- 
moniacal menace^ — and pulling trigger, shot 
it dead. 

Narrow escapes from these repulsive 
creatures so like the dry leaves in color, so 
easily concealed and liable to be stepped 
upon at any moment, were not uncommon. 
But there was nothing that happened to the 
average hunter that could so chill his blood, 
take away his courage and sicken him at 
heart as coming unexpectedly in so close 
proximity to this secret, deadly foe. The 
nervous system would shudder as if a hor- 
ror from some terrible, supernatural source 
had suddenly seized upon the soul, and the 


FLORIDA WILDS 73 

whole being would quake as if in the pres- 
ence of that ‘‘most subtle of all creatures,’’ 
the Satanic serpent that caused the fall of 
man! 

Though with courage to fight an open 
enemy — or even one not open, with the 
chances at least somewhat ^vided — these 
silent, sly, unseen creatures, horrible and 
fatal, hidden, mayhap, in any trodden or 
untrodden path, rising suddenly from un- 
derfoot, with that fiendish, forked tongue 
and relentless fang of death, would bring 
pallor to any cheek, or cause the stoutest 
heart to quail! The excited imagination 
now transformed every old root, or fallen 
limb into another snake; and my brother 
withdrew from his hunt and went home. 

Glad to escape this time in safety, he 
little dreamed what else would happen that 
day. But the stars were not to shine with- 
out another adventure for him, altogether 
different, but dangerous and thrilling in 
the extreme. It was still in the forenoon, 
and he was unwilling to lose the remainder 
of this last holiday, especially as I was still 
absent and not heard from. So taking an 
early lunch he shouldered his rifle and en- 
tered the forest on foot in a direction op- 
posite to that of the morning. He left the 
dog at home, having in view an old choice 
spot for a still hunt. 


74 FLORIDA WILDS 

Passing through scrub and low bay lands, 
he entered a great prairie, partly covered 
by tall saw grass and partly by a shorter 
growth, called ‘^maiden cane.’’ Scattered 
hither and thither, surrounded by the shal- 
low prairie waters, in the rainy seasons, 
were several islands varying in size, over- 
grown by the usual forest trees, pine, oak, 
hickory, magnolia, etc. One of these, sepa- 
rated from the mainland on one side by a 
narrow strip of prairie, had been originally 
cultivated by the Indians, and was univer- 
sally known as the ‘‘Indian Old Field.” 
This was larger than some of the others, and 
was traversed by trails running in different 
directions, which had been made by cattle, 
hogs and wild animals. It was a quiet spot, 
still showing traces of the Indian work of 
long ago, but covered now by large trees 
with open spaces underneath in some parts, 
and dense thickets in others. Thither my 
brother’s footsteps tended, as it was a fa- 
vorite resort for game, whose feeding 
grounds were in narrow necks of prairie 
land, now dry, secluded by the heavy main 
forest on the one side and the island growth 
on the other. 

The hunter would pursue one of the 
trails slowly, watching, listening, and look- 
ing for game that might be roaming about, 
or he would follow the path to the thicket 


FLORIDA .WILDS 75 

bordering the prairie, and then, crawling 
on hands and knees under the small growth, 
bending over the way to the edge of the 
prairie, and concealing himself in the 
bushes, would rise up and look cautiously 
around out on the open spaces for deer or 
turkey that might be feeding within gun- 
shot. 

Sometimes a tree would be climbed and 
a view obtained of wider territory; and if 
the game was distant, the hunter would slip 
quietly down, and, taking his course, would 
approach the game in a stooping posture, 
or, if need be, get down and crawl on all- 
fours, or not infrequently with his body flat 
on the ground until within shooting dis- 
tance. 

While not characterized by the dash and 
excitement of the chase, with the game 
thundering and crashing through the thick- 
ets, followed by crying hounds, still there 
is a fascination about the still hunt. The 
hunter experiences a spirit of rivalry be- 
tween himself and the wild creature he is 
endeavoring to intercept, the question 
being which of the two will evince the 
greater shrewdness — whether there will be 
capture or escape. 

My brother reached the ‘‘Indian Old 
Field,’’ stopped, listened, and looked care- 
fully all around. The usual swamp birds 


76 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


and squirrels were to be seen, but beyond 
these nothing else was immediately in sight. 
The opposite side from the one he entered 
was his objective point, the feeding 
grounds being over there. So he started 
on a trail leading that way, keeping a close 
lookout on either side. Deer and turkey 
signs were abundant, the turkeys having 
scratched away the leaves in many places 
in quest of insects, acorns, etc., and the 
sharp hoof of the deer having left traces, 
pointing in different directions. Besides 
these, the imprint of a bear’s soft pad could 
occasionally be seen in a fresh turkey 
scratch ; and once he thought he discovered, 
in a wet place in his path, the track of a 
panther ; the water partly covered it, how- 
ever, and he was not sure. But, at any 
rate, he had seen enough to know that he 
had struck his old haunt at a lucky time — 
game was about. 

So, his blood tingling with anticipation, 
he forgot the appalling incident of the 
morning, and advanced cautiously, the 
very atmosphere seeming to yield him 
pleasurable excitement. Yet it seemed 
strange that with so much sign, no game 
appeared ; and he reached the border of the 
open feeding grounds without incident. 

Nothing yet was in sight, when he as- 
cended a convenient tree, with gun 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


77 


strapped across his shoulder, and looked 
farther away than he could see from his 
position on the ground. He was just in 
time. A flock of turkeys at some distance 
was discovered, and now could be heard, 
giving out that peculiar cackle, signifying 
alarm. All heads were raised, tails were 
spread wide, and each bird seemed to be 
trying to discover some hidden enemy close 
by. Jackson knew they had not found him 
out, and was also curious to discover what 
it was nearer to them producing the scare. 
In a moment more they uttered altogether 
a loud squall, rose from the ground, and 
flew away to the tree-tops on the other side. 

At the same moment and at the same 
place he thought he caught sight of a part 
of the body of some animal, which disap- 
peared again instantly, and he supposed it 
was a deer or a large dog. Whatever it 
was, it had frightened the turkeys away, 
and he sat still and awaited further de- 
velopments. 

Presently he heard the shrill snort of a 
deer, and saw a fine buck coming in a lope 
from near the same point. The deer was 
rapidly approaching the spot where his 
tree stood, and having no time to descend, 
he brought his rifle into position, hoping 
the game would continue its course until 
near enough to shoot. In this he was not 


78 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


disappointed, and as the animal paused a 
moment, looking back, Jackson’s uneiring 
bullet brought him to the ground. Eeload- 
ing and coming down to his quarry, he won- 
dered whether the turkeys and deer had 
frightened each other, or whether some- 
thing else more formidable than either had 
alarmed them both. 

It was now the middle of the afternoon, 
and hastily preparing his game, he strap- 
ped it to his shoulders by the skin of its 
legs, and started homeward. He had not 
proceeded far when he thought he heard me 
whoop, but making so much noise in tramp- 
ing through the bog and tall grass, he could 
not be certain, though he paused and gave 
answer. Not hearing any further sound 
he went on a few steps, when he was im- 
pressed he heard me again. Once more he 
answered, but no response coming, he con- 
cluded he was mistaken and trudged on- 
ward. 

Yet again there was the sound of a voice, 
something like that of one hunter whooping 
for another, and being tired by this time, 
he stopped, laid the deer down, and deter- 
mined to ascertain the cause and source of 
the calls he now felt sure he had heard. 
With a hunter’s instinct he began to sus- 
pect that all was not right. He answered 
again, but no response was returned, and 


FLOEIDA .WILDS 79 

he waited, listened, looked, but all was still 
about him save the waving of the grass in 
the gentle breeze that was blowing. 

He had laid the deer down in a small, 
open space in the prairie, and walked per- 
haps thirty yards away from it to a larger 
bare spot, so that he could listen more ac- 
curately, being farther away from the noise 
of the moving grass. Now he again shouted 
loudly, and was immediately answered by 
a hoarse scream, which, with its savage, 
guttural termination made his blood run 
cold. There were no Indians in the coun- 
try then, but he knew at once he was being 
followed by a panther, its ferocity the more 
excited by the smell of blood which had 
dripped from the deer on the trail behind 
him. He understood now why game had 
been so scarce on his hunt, and why the tur- 
keys and deer had been so alarmed. 

The creature was nearby, and Jackson 
believed an encounter was unavoidable, for 
even if he should give up the deer and run 
away, he had no assurance that the blood- 
thirsty animal would not pursue him; and 
with his back turned in the tall saw grass, 
he would be almost at his assailant’s mercy. 
Besides, he was not inclined to run, and 
rather enjoyed the prospect of an adven- 
ture if he could have a fair chance, though 
all his nerve was required for the occa- 


80 FLOEIDA .WILDS 

sion, having only one bullet at a time at his 
command. So he quickly placed his rifle 
against his shoulder, pointing in the direc- 
tion from which the wild cry came, the car- 
cass of the deer being between himself and 
that point. 

In an instant another appalling screech 
rent the air, and with one high bound 
over the grass the terrible creature leaped 
upon the deer, and fastening its claws into 
the body, crunched into the neck with its 
powerful teeth. The taste of blood in- 
creased the animaPs fury, and with awful 
snarls and growls he raised his head and 
saw my brother, who, with that lone bullet 
to depend upon and no time to reload, if he 
missed, had been unwilling up to this mo- 
ment to risk his aim on account of the grass 
intervening and the rapid movements of 
the panther’s body. 

This, however, was his moment; but the 
head, still being half concealed by the grass, 
and being so quickly raised, Jackson could 
not be sure of its exact position when he 
fired. The ball did not strike the brain, but 
made a scalp wound, grazing the skull, and 
the beast, with a most fearful howl, turned 
a somersault backward and struggled on 
the ground with the fiercest growls and 
screeches. 

Jackson proceeded to reload as fast as 


FLOEIDA , WILDS 81 

possible, but the muzzle-loader could not 
be prepared in time — the panther had re- 
gained its feet, screaming terribly, when 
its eyes fell again upon my brother, and it 
made a dash for him. Still reloading and 
running backward in the open space, the 
creature being somewhat retarded by the 
effect of its wound, and being thirty yards 
away at the start, Jackson had the chance 
of a few critical seconds for his life. But 
the furious demon rapidly gained on him, 
and crouched for the deadly spring just 
as the faithful rifle sent another bullet, this 
time crashing through the brain. 


CHAPTER II 

^ ‘ AHA ! I THOUGHT SO. ” 

One invariably draws a breath of relief 
just as he feels he has escaped an impend- 
ing danger, and if he is as grateful as he 
ought to be, thanks heaven that the danger 
is past. 

This no doubt my poor brother did, but 
in a moment more he was startled by an- 
other noise in the tall grass surrounding 
the place where he stood. He was already 
reloading, and turned quickly to face what 


82 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


might be a new danger. At that instant, 
as he nervously rammed down his bullet, 
dropped his ram-rod, and hurried to ad- 
just his percussion cap, the grass parted 
a few yards in front of him and I appeared 
on the scene. I was almost out of breath. 
I had heard the panther ’s early screams, 
had climbed a tree on the forest side, and 
looking out over the prairie, discovered 
Jackson trudging along with the deer on 
his back. Listening until I could locate ex- 
actly the direction of the panther, I 
watched until I saw him, and to my horror 
he was crouching and sneaking on my 
brother’s trail. Jackson was too far away 
to hear any alarm from me, so I quickly 
descended, and from my location hoped I 
could intercept the ferocious creature be- 
fore he could overtake my brother, as he 
seemed to be proceeding slowly and cau- 
tiously. 

But evidently the smell of blood whetted 
his appetite ; and as he drew nearer he had 
increased his speed, and so I missed my 
calculation. 

Jackson and I had hardly time to ex- 
change a word, when we heard the sound 
of some other object stealthily approach- 
ing. We grew silent instantly, and held 
our guns in readiness. 

“Don’t shoot!” called out a familiar 


FLORIDA .WILDS 83 

stentorian voice, and in another moment 
the stalwart form of Old Hugh stepped, 
like an Indian, from the tall grass into the 
open space where we were standing. 

Hello! Uncle Hngh!^^ we both ex- 
claimed. • ‘ Why didn ’t yon come sooner ? ’ ’ 
^‘.By granny I boys,” said the old hunter, 
was aimin’ to git hyer sooner. I was 
up er tree on t’other side o’ ther perrairer 
an’ seed an’ heerd ther fust o’ ther ker- 
motion, an’ when I found ther pant’er was 
on trail o’ Jackson, with thet deer, I 
knowed hit meant business; an’ I clum 
down my tree an’ made tracks right arter 
’im. But I tell ye, boys,” the old fellow 
said, with a mysterious look, ‘‘ye hain’t 
seed es much es I hev yit, an’ I’m pow’ful 
glad ye hev hed sich luck es to git thet big 
buck an’ kill thet devilish pant’er, an’ git ofi 
with yer whole hides bersides. I jest come 
over hyer this mawnin’ er huntin’ some 
hawgs, an’ fetched my rifle erlong, es I hed 
knowed fur some time ther was a panter er 
killin’ some on ’em; an’ I ’lowed mebbe I 
might light my eyes on ’im. When I was 
up thet tree, the fust thing I seed was them 
turkeys, but I was on t’other side o’ ther 
big hammock, an’ er long ways off. Ther 
nex’ thing I see was er pant’er tryin’ ter 
sneak through some low grass an’ ketch er 
turkey. But they foun’ ’im out, an’ flew, 


84 FLOEIDA .WILDS 

an’ ’bout tbet time this hyer buck riz up 
from ther fuss ther turkeys made, an’ 
snuffin’ eround, he smelt ther pant’er, an’ 
erway he went fur ther Ingin Old Fiel’ 
when ye shot ’im. At ther crack o’ ther 
gun, ther pant’er, he lay low tell ye butch- 
ered ther deer, an’ started out, when he 
smelt ther blood, an’ got up an’ started 
arter ye. Then hit was thet I slid down an’ 
lit out arter ’im — I didn’t know thet Edvin 
was anywhar eround. But jest es I turned 
to come down thet tree my eye ketched 
sight o’ somethin’ ” 

We were skinning the panther during 
Old Hugh’s story, and just at this point we 
all heard distinctly, some quarter of a mile 
away, a prolonged tremulous cry, which we 
knew to be another panther. All were on 
foot in an instant and guns were grasped, 
as Old Hugh said, in a low tone : 

‘ ‘ Aha ! by granny ! I thought so ! ” 

‘‘Thought what?” we asked, in a half- 
whisper. 

“I ’lowed I hed seed emother one o’ 
them varmints. Thet’s ther mate ter this 
un. She heerd ther he-un er screechin’, an’ 
heerd ther guns, an’ smelt ther blood, an’ 
es she don’t heer her mate no more, she’s 
kin’ o’ onsart’in what’s up, so she’s er 
tryin’ ter holler up ther ol’ feller ergin. I 
tell ye, boys, ye fellers lay low hyer, an’ 


FLORIDA .WILDS 85 

keep still, an^ I’ll ten’ ter this ol’ she-devil 
m’self.” 

All this had been hurriedly said and 
scarcely above his breath. 

J ackson and I lay flat on the ground be- 
hind a little clump of tall grass, through 
which we could watch the movements of 
Old Hugh. He advanced some fifty yards 
from us and halted at another bunch of 
grass, into which he entered and concealed 
himself. Then with the long practice of the 
old panther hunter he imitated the cry of 
the beast. It was instantly answered, not 
a hundred yards away. In a few moments 
it screamed again somewhat nearer. Old 
Hugh answered, and all was silent again 
for a short time, when another call came 
from the panther, which was much nearer ; 
but it seemed to be coming slowly and care- 
fully. The answer was again made by the 
old hunter, and once more all was still. In 
a few moments more the creature was very 
near the open space that intervened be- 
tween Old Hugh’s hiding place and the 
dense growth that concealed herself; but 
the wary thing would not show her body. 

It now set up a series of mewings, pur- 
rings, half howling and growling, in a sort 
of cautious, subdued tone. The old hunter 
did his best to imitate all these, but the ani- 
mal did not seem to be inspired with con- 


86 


FLORIDA WILDS 


fidence. She was so near now that she 
conld probably detect the difference be- 
tween the beast and the human, or at least 
the sounds she heard did not seem to be 
exactly like those she had long been accus - 
tomed to from her mate. My brother and I 
waited breathlessly while we listened to the 
play between Old Hugh and the coveted 
quarry. The panther grew more cautious ; 
her voice was lowered, and she changed her 
position from time to time, sniffing the air 
and evidently trying to discern what was 
before her; but keeping herself concealed 
from the keen eye that glanced along the 
rifle barrel pointing in her direction. The 
sun had gone down, and unless some change 
in the situation should take place soon, 
darkness would settle over the scene and 
the panther would have a decided advan- 
tage. 

These creatures are usually shy and 
cowardly in their nature, shrinking away 
from the approach of a human being, but 
the smell of blood always excites their fe- 
rocity. We thought of trying to escape, 
but if we should take up the deer and skin 
of the dead panther, and the other should 
come upon the bloody ground, and discover 
the carcass of her mate, it was likely her 
rage would know no bounds, and she would 
pursue and attack us in the darkness with 


FLORIDA WILDS 


87 


utterly relentless fury. So we still hoped 
Old Hugh would yet get a shot at her before 
nightfall. But the shrewd, suspicious 
beast, instead of showing herself, began to 
make a circuit around us, evidently with 
the intention of getting to the opposite side, 
so as to get the wind, which was now 
against her, in order that her smelling fac- 
ulties would enable her to know positively 
whether there was any treachery about 
these seeming friendly calls of her mate. 

The situation began to grow serious. 
Within twenty minutes more night would 
set in and from the gathering clouds it 
promised to be very dark. Deep thunder 
muttered in the distance, and lightning had 
begun to play. That a storm was approach- 
ing there could be no doubt. The panther 
had grown ominously silent, except now 
and then we could catch an indistinct purr 
or low growl as it advanced on its circuit. 
Old Hugh remained quietly at his post, and 
we knew hunters^ rules too well to move 
from ours. There was nothing to do but 
await developments. We all commanded 
an open space from any direction, and if 
we must fight the cunning foe our chances 
were better here than in the tall grass 
which we must enter as soon as we quit our 
present situation. We hoped the creature 
would attempt to creep upon us where we 


88 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


were, rather than sneak up behind us in the 
dark and through the dense growth of saw 
grass, while making our way out with our 
burdens. 

Of course, we were aware the beast would 
not approach into the open space until after 
nightfall; but we hoped a lightning flash 
would give us a moment in which to shoot. 
We knew by intuition that Old Hugh was 
taking the same view of the situation ; and 
so, assuming a sitting posture, we turned 
noiselessly around, slowly, keeping our 
guns pointing in the direction we supposed 
the wily enemy to be. She herself, how- 
ever, moved so quietly that we could not 
hear any sound, except a low snarl at inter- 
vals. Suddenly there was a louder, fiercer 
growl, almost a howl of rage on the oppo- 
site side from which she had started; and 
then we knew she had the wind of us, and 
realized the presence of her human foes. 
Not only did this kindle her anger, but the 
strong smell of fresh blood from the deer 
and her butchered mate accompanied the 
human scent and aided in no small degree 
in stirring up the fierceness of her savage 
nature. She kept herself still concealed, 
for daylight had not yet faded away, but 
continued to growl and snarl with terrible 
meaning. 

I had the only shotgun in the party, and 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


89 


was strongly tempted to fire at the sound, 
trusting that part of my load would hit the 
mark; but as night was so near I decided it 
would be more discreet to reserve all fire 
for any desperate emergency that might 
soon occur. 

The panther now grew silent. We lis- 
tened intently, but not a sound could be 
heard; and we knew that the beast had 
settled down to await the protection of the 
night. The clouds by this time had gath- 
ered darkly overhead, the thunder was 
nearer and louder, and the lightning flashed 
more rapidly and brilliantly, while big, 
scattering drops of rain began to fall. 

Just then we heard a sudden rush from 
another direction through the tall grass 
toward the spot where the panther was 
heard last, immediately followed by the 
loud outcry of fierce dogs, and this by the 
keen yet tremulous blast of a horn, and 
then a yell like that of an Indian savage ! ^ 

We heard the panther break from its 
crouching place and away, while the dogs 
in full cry went tearing by in hot pursuit. 

We were all on our feet in a moment, Old 
Hugh joining Jackson and myself. Again 
sounded that horn’s loud, plaintive wail, 
and again came forth that wild war-whoop, 
and the next instant the new arrival dashed 


90 


FLORIDA WILDS 


at headlong speed into the open space 
where we stood. 

‘‘Hello, there we all shouted at once. 

“Hello, ay golly!” returned the new- 
comer, stumbling over the deer first and 
then over the panther. “What the debbil 
— does all this mean?” 

He was greatly excited, and we had not 
recovered from the effects of our recent 
thrilling experiences. 

Old Hugh was the first to speak : 

“Waal, hit means ye got hyer with yer 
dogs jest in time, by granny ! ter keep thet 
varmint from makin’ er supper off^n us, 
mebbe. But let’s git out’n hyer now afore 
thet storm ketches us. Call off yer dogs, 
Mac; hit’s too late an’ stormy ter f oiler 
thet critter any furder, an’ we’ll tell ye 
more erbout hit when we git ter yer place. ’ ’ 

McLeod raised his darling horn to his 
lips, and three long, sweet, trembling wails 
between the peals of thunder went ringing 
after the dogs over the prairies and into 
the forest. 

That incomparable horn! How Jackson 
and I did enjoy its music once more ! 

We quickly took up the deer and panther 
skin and started for McLeod’s island farm, 
about a mile distant across a prairie. The 
wind mercifully shifted, and after a brief 


FLOEIDA .WILDS 91 

downpour the storm blew away and the 
moon came out with a flood of light. 

We rested and dried off^’ around a big 
fire at the farm, and recounted the ad- 
ventures of the day. 

McLeod had heard the panther’s screams 
and the rifle reports, and had taken his gun 
and two big dogs and gone out to investi- 
gate. His arrival was timely, for the 
chances were against us; and the circum- 
stances might have been very serious in 
the darkness and storm, at the mercy, as 
we should likely have been, of our unseen, 
revengeful and furious foe. 

‘^But, by granny!” said Old Hugh, ‘‘hit 
were er pity ter let thet critter git erway 
et last, when I was er countin’ on stickin’ er 
bullet inter them brains o ’ hern. ’ ’ 

“Yes; but, ay golly! it was better — for 
her to git away than — to stay an’ eat you 
fellers for supper — as you said,” McLeod 
replied. 

“Thet’s so! an’ things did look purty 
skeery out thar fer erwhile. I ’low hit were 
better thet ye come erlong with yer dogs 
’an run ’er otf . She might hev ketched one 
or t’other uv us, afore ther thing were over. 
But, by granny! I ain’t satisfled, an’ I’ll git 
her yit, some day, ef she ain’t purty 
pyert !” 

“And so, ay golly! you think—you’ll get 


92 FLORIDA .WILDS 

another chance at her yet, do yon, Uncle 

Hnghr^ 

“Yaas, ye see these varmints is mighty 
restless kind o’ critters, an’ she’ll go prog- 
gin’ all erbout now fer miles, sence she’s 
lost ’er mate. Thet’ll make ’er pow’ful 
mad, an’ she ain’t er gwine ter res’ tell she 
teks ernuther mate, an’ thet’ll be a year yit. 
In thet time, es I said, she ’ll progg erbont, 
er doin’ devilment tell she gits killed, ef me 
an’ her stays in ther same diggin’s.” 

How good a prophet Old Hugh was may 
be seen in another chapter. 

The events of that day made a most fit- 
ting climax for the close of our vacation, 
taken in search of adventure ; and the mem- 
ory, like that of other startling experiences 
of those olden times, in the wild woods, 
makes the writer’s blood thrill to this day. 


THE PANTHER HUNT 
CHAPTER I 

‘^stop!’’ we all stood still and listened 

One night as we reached the deepest 
shade of the forest, through which our road 
lay, we suddenly heard, “A-hem!’’ as a 
man cleared his throat just ahead of us. 
There was only one man in the community 
who could clear his throat in that way, and 
the sound, deep and stentorian, gave evi- 
dence that it emanated from the great or- 
gans of a giant. 

Hello, boys, by granny! I’m pow’ful 
glad ter see ye!” was the next thing we 
heard; and we were soon shaking hands 
with Uncle Hugh, who had a Ime deer 
strapped across his shoulders. We had not 
seen him before, having intended to call on 
him the next day. 

Hello, Uncle Hugh!” we answered; 
‘ ^ we are just as glad to see you. Where did 
you get that old fellow?” 

‘‘Got him over hyer on ther Shingle 
Swamp.” 


93 


94 FLORIDA .WILDS 

‘‘Been deer hunting to-day, then, ehT’ 

“No; I hain’t ther time from ther farm 
ter go er reg’ler deer huntin^, but I thought 
this even’ I’d go an’ hunt sum hawgs I 
knowed was er usin’ down thar on ther 
swamp. I allers tek my rifle erlong, y’ 
know, in case somethin’ sh’d git up in my 
way. So as I was proggin’ erbout, lookin’ 
fer my hawgs, this ol’ buck riz from one 
side in ther bushes, an’ went er tearin’ 
through ther swamp, when I sent er bullet 
arter ’im thet fetched ’im down in ’is 
tracks. ’ ’ 

The old hunter was going the same direc- 
tion, so we all walked along together as he 
told his story. 

“You always hit, Uncle Hugh, when you 
shoot. ’ ’ 

“ Yaas, purty ginerally. Got so used ter 
it in ther ol’ days when I was young an’ er 
huntin’, thet hit ’d be sort o’ onhandy ter 
miss er deer now, ef I was ter try.” 

“Did you find your hogs?” 

“No; I seed ther sign, Wt they hed been 
skeered otf from thar.” 

“A^Hiat frightened them, do you sup- 
pose?” we asked, knowing he had some- 
thing special he wanted to be asked to tell. 

“Waal, I seed er bear’s track in one 
place, an’ then in another I come ercross 
ther track uv thet same durned she-pant’er. 


FLOEIDA WILDS 95 

ther mate to ther one, Jacksin, tliet ye 
killed erbont er year ago.’’ 

‘'How do you know it is the same one?” 

“Don’t ye reckerlec thet I tol’ ye thet 
day I’d seed ’er track, an’ hit hed one uv 
’er toes missin’ from her lef’ hin’ foot?” 

‘ ‘ Oh, yes ! Well, have you seen any other 
sign of her lately?” 

“Yaas; she went erway fer erwhile, an’ 
now she’s come back er proggin’ erbout, es 
I tol’ ye she would, an’ I hev seed her 
tracks an’ hyern her holler er good many 
times. ’ ’ 

“But you haven’t come up with her yet? 
You remember you swore you’d have her 
some day.” 

“Yaas, by granny! an’ I mean ter git ’er 
yit. But she’s pow’ful cunnin’. Some- 
times I hev clum er tree an’ seed ’er er 
huntin’ in ther open perrairer, an’ at night 
I heern ’er er hollerin’.” 

“Isn’t it unusual. Uncle Hugh, for them 
to run about so much and cry out so 
often ? ’ ’ 

“Yaas; but ye see, jes’ like I tol’ ye, 
she’s been pow’ful res ’less ever sence she 
lost ’er mate; an’ now, cornin’ back ter ther 
ol’ groun’ she’s minded o’ him ergin. Gin- 
erally, they does ther huntin’ uv er night, 
an’ unly hollers when they wants to fin’ one 
ernother, an’ not of^n then. But some- 


96 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


times they gits hongry, an’ hunts in day- 
time like ther day Jacksin killed ’er mate. 
But this oP she-un is er gittin’ more an’ 
more bol’. I hev seed ’er track in ther 
open woods, whar people ’s er livin’, an’ 
she’s gwine ter keep on er proggin’ eroun’ 
tell she gits inter trouble. I hev been kind 
er layin’ up for ’er, but I ’lowed I’d like 
ter git ye fellers home to jine in ther fun. 
Thet’s ther reason I axed yer paw ter sen’ 
fer ye — stop!” the old fellow suddenly 
said, half under his breath. 

We all stood still in the darkness and in- 
stinctively listened; for we could not see 
many feet ahead or behind us in the road 
and not at all on either side in the deep 
shadow of the forest. 

‘‘Hyer thet?” Old Hugh asked, in a low 
tone. 

^‘Yes; and that’s not an owl either, is 
it?” 

‘‘No, by granny; thet’s ther pant’er her- 
se’f. Let’s listen erwhile.” 

We waited some moments and heard the 
cry again; but indistinctly. We were no 
novices in the woods, but our ears had 
not been so long and so continuously in 
training as those of the old hunter by our 
side, and so could not be expected to be 
quite so acute in the wilds about us. Dur- 
ing our long absence we had become too 


FLOEIDA :WILDS 


97 


well accustomed to the blasts of steam 
whistles and other city noises to notice the 
first cry of the animal that had attracted 
the attention of Old Hugh. 

Once again from the distance came the 
harsh, peculiar scream, which can never 
be mistaken by the experienced hunter’s 
ear. 

Old Hugh looked up at the stars. 

‘ ‘ She ’s er trav ’lin ’ purty pyert, ’ ’ he said. 
“She’s nigh enter er mile otf ; an’ when we 
fust hyerd ’er she was ter ther south; an’ 
now she’s ter ther east’ard, an’ er gwine 
north. She’s er headin’ fer ther open, 
to’ards ther settlements ; an’ I tell ye, boys, 
hit wouldn’t s ’prise me ef she done some 
devilment afore mawnin’.” 

“You don’t think she would attack a 
human being, do you. Uncle Hugh?” 

“Waal, they don’t of’n do thet. But 
away back yan’er whar I cum from I hev 
knowed ’em to tackle er ’oman in ther Oke- 
fernoky Swamp, when they was pow’ful 
mad or hongry.” 

The last cry died away, and was almost 
beyond hearing as we started on again, and 
Old Hugh resumed : 

“Now, boys, by granny! I think we hev 
stood this hyer thing long enough. S ’pose 
we git up er hunt fer ’er to-morrer. I’ll 
fin’ ’er track soon in ther mawnin’ an’ come 


98 


FLOEIDA .WILDS 


over an’ let ye know. Ye fellers go over 
ter McLeod’s ter-night, an’ ’ngage Mm an’ 
his dawgs ter be at yer house by breakfus ’ 
time, an’ ye an’ yer paw git yer guns in 
good fix an’ be ready when me an’ Bud 
comes with our dawgs, an’ we’ll all jine in, 
an’ giv’ ther ol’ critter er warmin’ up.” 

We heartily agreed to this, and parted 
from Old Hugh after we had reached the 
^ ‘ open, ’ ’ he having insisted on giving us a 
ham of his venison, saying : 

‘^Er good breakfus of’n thet’ll put ye in 
fine trim fer er pant’er hunt.” 

Father asked particularly about the pan- 
ther — ^what direction she seemed to be 
going, and realizing, as Old Hugh had said, 
that she was “headin’ fer ther settle- 
ments,” thought it important to start the 
hunt promptly next morning. 

^ ^ These creatures, ’ ’ he said, ^ ^ though shy 
and cowardly, have been known to attack 
human beings; and it is not safe to have 
them prowling around the neighborhood, 
especially where women sometimes ramble 
into the woods unprotected. ’ ’ 

Dear father little knew how nearly pro- 
phetic these words would prove before the 
setting of another sun. 

Having partaken of supper in which 
broiled venison — our loving sisters would 
prepare it for us — formed a substantial 


FLOEIDA :WILDS 99 

and delicious part, we lost no time in going 
over to McLeod ^s, not a mile away. 

‘‘Hello, boys, ay golly! when — ^when — 
did you come?’’ 

He was stretched out on a bench in the 
yard, smoking his pipe after supper, and 
gazing up at the stars. 

“Hello, Mac!” we said, “what are you 
star-gazing for — in love?” 

“No, ay golly! — just thinkin’ how lucky 
that girl was — that kicked me ten years 
ago. I was lucky, too — it’s a heap easier 
to be a bachelor than a husband.” 

“Well, what do you say to a panther 
hunt to-morrow?” 

“Another panther hunt! Ay golly! — 
I’m in for it. Just laid by my crop — and 
was wishin’ you boys was here — to go a- 
huntin’ with me.” 

We told him of the events of the evening 
and plans for the next day. He was de- 
lighted, and calling up his dogs patted 
them on the head and told them about the 
morrow as if they had human understand- 
ing. 

“Here, Tiger and Leopard, come here, 
boys — ay golly ! I want you fellows to run 
— your cousin down to-morrow.” 

The dogs leaped and whined, as if they 
understood something unusual was going 
to happen. , 


100 FLOEIDA .WILDS 

After spending a pleasant hour with 
Mac we returned, cleaned up our guns, and 
reloading them, prepared our ammunition, 
and put all in readiness for the hunt before 
we lay down to sleep. 


CHAPTER II 

AWFUL TKAGEDY NAKKOWLY AVERTED 

Our early breakfast was scarcely over 
the next day when the soft notes of Mc- 
Leod ^s horn came floating to us on the 
fresh morning breeze, a signal that he was 
coming. The dogs answered with a howl 
and began to sniff the air and whine, grow- 
ing more restless as the sound of the horn 
grew nearer, and they saw us handling our 
guns and moving about with hurried step. 

Loud barking and growling soon an- 
nounced the new arrivals. After the first 
greeting, usual among dogs, they seemed 
to scrape up old acquaintance, having 
hunted together before, and became paci- 
fied. 

Suddenly a deep ^‘Ahem!’’ was heard at 
another gate, and Old Hugh appeared, 
looking over the fence, having come up 
with such Indian-like craftiness his ap- 
proach had not been discovered. 

^‘Good morning. Uncle Hugh!^’ we ex- 


FLOEIDA WILDS 101 

claimed. ‘‘"WTiere are your dogs and 

Budr’ 

Good mawnin’ ter ye all. They air out 
thar in ther woods er piece, er waitin’ fer 
us. WeVe seed ther sign’ an’ Bud’s er 
holden’ back ther dogs tell we kin all git 
thar tergether.” 

In another moment we had all joined the 
old hunter and started, the dogs racing 
about with uplifted noses. 

‘‘Where did you see the sign, Hugh?” 
father asked. 

“Waal, she come outen ther big scrub, 
an’ progged eround ther settlement er right 
smart, an’ then made otf to’ard Eoun’ 
Lake, an’ thar I los’ ’er track whar she 
went down in ther permeters. Afore I got 
thet fur, though, I foun’ whar she hed 
killed er hawg an’ eat ’er fill; an’ I think 
when we jump ’er she’ll be s’full an’ lazy 
she won’t run very long afore she’ll stop 
an’ fight, ur tek ter er tree.” 

“Ay golly! — you think, then — we’ll be 
sure to jump her?” 

“Yaas, by granny! we kayn’t help it, 
with sich sign and sich dogs es we’ve got.” 

“Then you think — you’ll get even with 
her yet — like you said you would, Uncle 
Hugh ? ’ ’ 

“Yaas, by granny! I’ll f oiler ’er ter ther 
ends of the yairth ter-day, but I’ll pay ’er 


102 FLOEIDA WILDS 

up fur tryin’ ter ketch me an’ ther boys 
thet day, an’ then gittin’ erway herse’f 
b ’sides.” 

By this time we had come within sight 
of Bud and his dogs. 

Before any of us could interfere, the 
three packs of dogs had run together and 
there was a general fight. There were just 
six of them, two from each of the three 
places, and, pairing off and being pretty 
well matched, they seemed to get enough of 
it by the time we parted them, and were 
ready to give attention to the hunt. After 
a few rebukes and soothing words with pats 
on the head, they were led up to the trail of 
the panther. 

Immediately the hair on their backs 
stood erect, tails were stiffly curled, and 
forgetting their little ^‘late unpleasant- 
ness” they all joined together on the track 
of the common enemy. 

Under the direction of Old Hugh the 
hunters quickly deployed and four of us 
rushed away to stands.” The panther 
had gone down into a wide, dense jungle 
that surrounded Bound Lake, and we felt 
sure of getting a shot, by guarding the 
open woods, if she attempted to leave the 
cover. 

Old Hugh and Bud, the best woodsmen 
of the party, had followed the dogs to keep 


FLOEIDA SVILDS 103 

them encouraged, and take what chances 
they might get of a shot in the jungle. Soon 
the dogs broke out in full cry, and we knew 
the beast had been started. Away they 
went, round and round, retracing their 
course, making circuits again, then striking 
off in a ‘‘bee-line,’’ again retracing, and 
then seeming to lose the track altogether. 

These animals, like all of the cat kind, 
are very cunning, and make shrewd efforts 
to elude pursuing dogs by crossing their 
own track repeatedly, or running directly 
back over the way they have already come. 

The wily creatures seem to intentionally 
confuse the dogs, so as to gain time to es- 
cape before their real direction can again 
be discovered. Having done this, they do 
not even then run along a straight course, 
but make loops and run backward and in 
various ways, so as to keep the dogs in 
more or less confusion as far as they pur- 
sue them. 

No one understood these tricks better 
than Old Hugh and Bud; and by their pres- 
ence they could exercise their intelligence 
in assisting the dogs by directing their 
movements. 

Each one at his stand was watching and 
listening intently, but the wary beast had 
no idea of leaving cover yet, and when the 
dogs cried out again we found she had gone 


104 


FLORIDA .WILDS 


down deeper still into the tangled recesses 
of the thicket. The drivers (as those who 
follow the dogs are called) cheered on the 
dogs with lively yells, and forced their way 
in pursuit ; but the same experience was re- 
peated over and over, while the distance 
was gradually widening between the hunt- 
ers and the game. Finally the leading dog 
stopped and bayed, and the others of the 
pack soon arriving, all joined in the loud, 
heavy baying, which we knew arose from 
some circumstance that interrupted the 
pursuit. At first we hoped the creature had 
^ ‘ treed, but the prolonged howls and lack 
of fierceness that characterized the baying 
made it clear to us that such was not our 
luck. The panther had successfully es- 
caped, and left the dogs helpless. We knew 
in a moment that the beast had taken to the 
water. The lake was two miles wide from 
any point, and as we could not see it was 
not possible for us to know which direction 
the panther had taken for its long swim. 

It was necessary for us to get together 
as quickly as we could for a council. Our 
horns were immediately sounded and the 
dogs called otf, while Old Hugh and Bud 
made their way back to the open woods 
where we awaited them. We soon decided 
that the only thing left to us was to make 
a circuit of the lake and strike the trail 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


105 


wherever the beast left the water. So we 
divided our party, Old Hugh and Bud, with 
McLeod, going around one way with their 
dogs, and father, Jackson and I going 
around the other, to meet at a given point. 
We supposed the panther, true to its in- 
stincts, would quit the lake jungle and has- 
ten back to Big Forest or some more exten- 
sive hiding place, and that consequently we 
would strike her trail at whatever point she 
would come out to quit the lake woods. 
Having agreed upon a signal of three long 
blasts of the horn to be given by whichever 
party first found the trail, we separated. 

We crossed many deer trails, but the 
trained dogs were forbidden to notice these. 
In this way we avoided delays and made 
speedy progress, though neither party 
could hear anything of the other, so silently 
did all proceed. In two hours after parting 
we were nearing the meeting point agreed 
upon. Nothing yet had been discovered of 
our missing quarry by either party, and we 
were beginning to fear the shrewd wretch 
had determined to continue in hiding 
around the lake, and in this way, perhaps, 
escape us altogether, as we could not tell 
how to find her place of retreat without her 
track to follow her. 

A little creek ran out of one side of the 
lake, and this was where our parties were 


106 FLOEIDA .WILDS 

to meet, and we were now in sight of each 
other through an open space across the 
stream. 

Just at that moment down the creek some 
four hundred yards, loud scream after 
scream rent the air, distinctly heard by 
both parties of hunters. It was not the 
screech of the panther, but the piercing 
shriek of a woman! 

We all dashed in that direction and met 
opposite each other at father’s water mill, 
for this was the mill creek. There we found 
one of my sisters, a grown young lady, 
pale, trembling, crying and wringing her 
hands, with a look of the utmost terror in 
her eyes. She was on our side of the creek 
and the other hunters hurriedly crossed 
over. My sister could scarcely speak, but 
recovered herself in a few moments when 
surrounded by the hunters and dogs, the 
latter snuffing the air and growling. 

‘‘There!” she exclaimed, indicating the 
direction the noses of the dogs were point- 
ing. 

“What was it?” we all asked, in one 
breath. 

“Panther!” she gasped, shuddering. “It 
leaped from that tree at me, and only fell 
short of me a few feet. Wlien I screamed 
it snarled and slunk away in the bushes.” 

She had been out with some children. 


FLOEIDA .WILDS 107 

who were now coming up, picking huckle- 
berries, and returning in advance alone, 
the beast had made the leap at her. It had 
either miscalculated the distance, or its 
courage had failed at the moment. 

We waited to hear no more. Leaving 
father to guard the helpless ones. Old Hugh 
said : 

‘^Now, boys, by granny! she’s er headin’ 
back fer ther lake, right up ther creek, ther 
way she come, an’ let’s push right arter 
her. Some uv ye fellers run on ahead on 
both sides uv ther creek, an’ me an’ Bud ’ll 
f oiler ther dogs. ’ ’ 

In a moment we came to the spot where 
the fearful claws had dug up the dirt where 
the creature had landed when she leaped 
at my sister; and the whole pack of dogs 
set out at full cry, encouraged by the yells 
of the hunters. We were all excited, and 
forgetting our fatigue, followed the chase 
with flaming enthusiasm. 

I had crossed the creek, Mac and Jackson 
were on the other side, and we all rushed 
toward the lake, while the drivers tore like 
madmen through the scrub along the creek 
shore. The wily creature was too quick 
for us, however. She had heard our ap- 
proach to the water mill, and taking advan- 
tage of the few moments we spent^ in talk- 
ing with sister, she had made a quick dash 


108 


FLORIDA WILDS 


lip to the lake again, and was lost in the 
swamp surrounding it. 

We all met at the outlet of the creek from 
the lake, and Old Hugh said she would not 
take to the water again, ‘‘havin’ jest swum 
two mile.” 

“Now, boys,” he continued, rapidly, 
“she’s ergwine over ’er track uv this 
mawnin’, an’ erheadin’ fur ther Devil’s 
Den. Push on through ther high woods an’ 
cut ’er off, ef ye kin, afore she gits thar; 
an’ ef ye gits er chance an’ kayn’t see ’er 
body, shoot at ’er shadder ! Ef she gits ter 
ther Den, ’thout bein’ wounded, by granny ! 
hit’s gwine ter be ther devil ter git ’er!” 

He and Bud immediately disappeared in 
the swamp, yelling to the dogs that were 
racing around and around on the track, re- 
peating the experience of the morning. 

“Ay golly! Eddie, as you run — so fast, 
go ahead — and Jack and me will — divide 
the distance behind, ’ ’ said McLeod. 

In vain we guarded the border line be- 
tween the high woods and the lake swamp ; 
for, as Old Hugh had surmised, she kept 
to cover, drawing nearer the Devil’s Den 
by every circuit she made. This almost im- 
penetrable jungle was connected by a nar- 
row neck of dense thicket with the lake 
swamp, and she had taken to the water in 
the morning before reaching it. On the 


FLORIDA WILDS 109 

drivers came, whooping encouragement to 
the dogs, and on came the yelping pack, 
pressing the game more and more hotly. 
The lake swamp becoming narrower as it 
neared the Den, I, getting ahead of the 
chase during the roundabout play, dashed 
into the swamp, hoping to be in the path of 
the beast when she reached that point. 

The other two hunters saw my movement 
and paused to await results, concealing 
themselves, thinking the beast might turn 
back from me and give them a chance. 

The moment was exceedingly exciting. 
The yells of old Hugh and Bud were get- 
ting nearer, and the fierce cry of the dogs 
came nearer still, while the bushes were 
shaking everywhere as the chase came tear- 
ing through, and every man held his gun 
in readiness to shoot in a moment. I, be- 
ing ahead, and in the thicket myself, felt al- 
most sure of a shot, when a sudden breeze 
sprung up around me, blowing directly to- 
ward the chase, and so, when almost near 
enough for me to see, the panther smelt me 
and turned abruptly back. 

In a moment more a gun was fired in that 
direction, followed by a loud yell from Mc- 
Leod, and other shouts from Old Hugh and 
Bud, and next a rifle shot from Jackson, 
with more shouts and yells and fiercer cries 
from the dogs, and then more tearing 


110 


FLOEIDA [WILDS 


through the undergrowth as Mac and J ack- 
son dashed in behind the dogs. The ex- 
citement was up to fever heat, and I 
thought the next shot would certainly be 
mine, as the beast would not try to turn 
back again with so many yells, dogs, and 
guns in her rear. On the whole tumult 
came, and every moment I hoped to shoot; 
but the thicket was so dense I could not 
even see the bushes shake. 

Nearer came the dogs, nearer came the 
yells, nearer came the crashing through 
the jungle. Suddenly I became aware that 
the cunning creature had passed me. Evi- 
dently she had come near enough to locate 
me again by the scent, and then making a 
circuit had quickly and quietly slipped 
through a denser growth nearer the water’s 
edge, some fifty yards from where I stood. 

I joined the dogs now with another yell, 
and Old Hugh and Bud, understanding just 
what had happened, ran out of the swamp 
to the high woods, and dashed ahead to- 
ward the Den, hoping to cut off the game. 

Mac and Jackson were with me by this 
time, and, ‘‘Ay golly!” said Mac, nearly 
out of breath, “weVe drawed blood.” 

“Yes,” I said, “I see that, and one hind 
foot is broken.” 

“That was Mac’s shot,” said Jackson, as 
we hurried on. “I shot at the head.” 


FLOEIDA .WILDS 


111 


CHAPTER III 

THE DEN — ‘ ^ WAKED UP^ THE DEVIL ! ^ ’ 

We could exchange no more words, but 
rushed on with constant yells to the dogs, 
who were pressing the formidable game 
with terrible fierceness as we entered the 
‘‘DeviPs DenP’ The wounded beast was 
evidently getting weary — ^making her cir- 
cuits shorter and more slowly — the dogs 
gaining on her, as our practiced ears could 
tell by their varying cries. 

But in this extremely dense jungle we 
were still at great disadvantage, our pro- 
gress being so slow and so obstructed that 
we had often to get down on our breasts 
and slide like alligators under the tangled 
growth. Several times we heard the pan- 
ther pass us, only a few yards away, 
breathing heavily and snarling, as she was 
still trying to confuse the dogs. We could 
not see her, however, or even the shaking 
of the bushes through which she made her 
way, so dense was the thicket about us. But 
we knew we were gaining ground — dogs 
and drivers were crowding her from be- 
hind, and Old Hugh and Bud were still in 
advance. Once again we heard the snarl- 
ing and the spitting of the furious cat go 


112 FLOEIDA .WILDS 

whizzing near by us as we were forcing our 
way, yelling ourselves hoarse to the dogs, 
when suddenly Bud’s big shotgun roared 
through the jungle, followed by a moment’s 
lull, and then a full savage cry from the 
whole pack of dogs again in hot pursuit. 

Bud yelled like an Indian, and the dogs 
cried so vehemently we guessed fresh blood 
had been drawn; but none of our fine 
marksmen had yet been able to show his 
skill, shooting at random into the bushes, 

‘ ^ sight unseen. ’ ’ 

The wounded beast was still continuing 
her circuits, but more slowly yet, and we 
were able to press our way closer to the 
scene of activities and fall in with Bud, 
who was now also behind the dogs. 

‘‘Paw’s ahead yit!” was all he had time 
to say, half out of breath, as we tore 
through the resisting tangles, all of us in 
tatters and scratched and bleeding from 
the many bramble and brier wounds. Sud- 
denly the dogs bayed fiercely and then 
shrieked in pain and fright; and we knew 
the desperate creature had stopped to fight 
for breath, and doubtless had clawed one 
or more of the most venturesome dogs. In 
a moment, however, she was ofP again and 
the dogs in full cry just behind her. We 
were very near, but could not see ten feet 
ahead of us. 


FLOEIDA iWILDS 113 

This time she made a straight rim of 
probably fifty yards, and we pursued in the 
hottest haste we could make, yelling d-t 
every step, the excitement being most in- 
tense and our situation full of danger, as 
the panther, now made desperate with pain, 
rage, and terror, might at any moment turn 
back on us, or in making a circuit rush 
right into our party. 

But in such a crisis the more danger and 
excitement the more delirious is the hunt- 
er’s enjoyment and reckless his courage, 
and so we hurled ourselves with seeming 
greater force than ever against all opposing 
obstacles as we followed the faithful dogs. 
At this instant, however, that courage was 
put to the test and our nervous excitement 
reached the utmost tension, as in the next 
circuit through one of the very densest 
thickets of the whole jungle a new incident 
was thrust upon us with such suddenness 
and fury as might have emanated from an 
upheaval of demons from the bottomless 
pit! 

Within forty feet of us a terrific roar 
from a savage throat burst forth, mingled 
with an awful screech from the panther, 
each repeated in quick succession amid the 
loud snapping together of furious teeth, 
the reckless tearing of bushes and briers, 
and a sound like the startled screaming of 


114 FLORIDA W^ILDS 

infants ! The whole tumult was coming im- 
mediately toward us, and every gun was 
brought to the shoulder, pointing in that 
direction, but in ten seconds it was all oyer 
— the panther rushing, snarling and whirl- 
ing, off to the right, while heavy lunges, 
deep growls, and the baby cries were heard 
tearing away to the left. 

‘‘Ay golly shouted McLeod, “we must 
Ve waked up — the devil an’ his imps in 
their den!” 

“Hit were ’n ol’ she bear an’ ’er young 
cubs, the pant’er run ag’in!” Bud ex- 
claimed, and by this time the dogs arrived 
upon the scene, paused a moment as they 
recognized the bear scent confused with 
that of the panther, but dashed away again 
on the bloody trail of the game they were 
following. 

In the rush and tumble of the fight the 
savage beasts had come within fifteen feet 
of where we stood, but we could not see 
them, and perhaps, in spite of our guns, we 
were fortunate that they did not get into 
our midst and include us in the tussle. 

Immediately after this the dogs bayed 
again, not thirty yards ahead of us, and in 
another instant there followed the ringing 
crack of Old Hugh’s rifie, then a crash 
through the vines and bushes, a chorus of 
barks, growls, and a fierce gnawing sound 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


115 


from the heated mouths of the dogs, fol- 
lowed quickly by a triumphant whoop from 
Old Hugh, and we knew that the panther 
was dead. 

We hurried up, and there lay the splen- 
did trophy, the dogs biting and barking in 
the greatest glee, and Old Hugh, his rifle 
resting on the ground, and his hands 
crossed over the muzzle, looking down upon 
the scene with supreme satisfaction on his 
bronzed face. 

‘‘Waal,’’ he said, “by granny! I tol’ ye 
I’d git even with this ol’ devil some day. 
She’s an ol ’-timer, too; by ther gray in ’er 
flanks she mus’ be nigh enter fifty year 
ol’.” 

“Ay golly!” Mac exclaimed, “she’s a 
big one. Are you sure. Uncle Hugh, she is 
the same one — that tried to eat — ^you an’ 
the boys up that night?” 

“Yaas, by granny!” holding up the left 
hind foot, “thar’s whar thet toe is missin’ 
I tol’ ye erbout.” 

“How do you s’pose^ — she lost that toe?” 

“In er fight some time, when she was 
young; some other ’n bit hit off.” 

We were all panting like dogs with the 
excitement and fatigue, and as soon as we 
could get breath, proceeded to examine and 
find which shots had taken effect. 

“I didn’t see her — ^when I fired,” said 


116 FLOEIDA .WILDS 

Mac. done like you said — ay golly! I 
fired at her shadow ! ’ ’ 

‘‘Waal/^ said Bud, who was down on 
his knees handling the carcass, ‘‘thet was 
your shot thet broke her hind foot. ’ ’ 

Jackson was examining the head. ‘^Here 
is my bullet-hole,’’ he said, ‘through the 
ear. I had only a glimpse of her head as 
she turned back from Mac.” 

^^An’, karfoun’ my pictur’l” exclaimed 
Bud, ^^hyer’s whar I struck ’er; two o’ my 
shots went through ther p’int o’ one fore- 
shoulder. I didn’t see her, nuther — I jest 
shot et ther shakin’ bushes.” 

Old Hugh’s bullet, that had ended her 
career, had pierced the brain. 

‘‘Let me see!” exclaimed Mac, and he 
stopped and examined carefully, closing 
one eye as if taking aim. “Well, Uncle 
Hugh,” he added, “you made a center 
shot. ’ ’ 

“Yaas,” proudly replied the old hunter, 
“I struck ’er pine-blank in ther forrard.” 

“Ay golly! I kin do it, too!” 

“Never mind about your bragging now, 
Mac,” I said. “Tell us. Uncle Hugh, how 
you managed your part of it?” 

“Waal,” said the old fellow, “bein’ es 
I was erhead o’ ther hull gang at this p’int, 
I tuk my stan’ in er bear trail thet I 
knowed erbout hyer, thinkin’ mebbe she’d 


FLORIDA .WILDS 117 

run on thet er piece. Shore ’nuff, she 
struck hit erhout thirty ur forty yards be- 
low me, an^ arter ther scrimmage with ther 
bear, she tuk hit on er straight streak right 
fur me. I drapped down on one knee so 
I c’d see under ther bushes thet kinder 
leant over ther trail; an’ et thet minnit her 
an’ ther dogs was er cornin’ to’ard me, er 
rushin’ an’ er tearin’ under them bushes 
like ther very devil ! 

‘‘I hilt my gun ready, ’spectin’ every 
secon’ she’d be almos’ on ter me; but jest 
as she got thet fur, she was s’ wounded, 
an’ ther dogs was er pushin’ ’er s’ tight, 
she clum this tree on ther t’other side frum 
me. But jest as she got up to ther fork, 
her head ’peared twixt ther prongs, an’ I 
think she seed me et ther same time, but I 
was ready fur her, an’ let fly at ’er p’int 
betwixt ’er eyes; an’ at ther crack o’ my 
gun she drapped to theryairth lik’ thunder 
an’ lightnin’ hed struck her!” 

‘^Ay golly!” said Mac, guess that’s 
what — she thought hit her ! ’ ’ 

It was with much satisfaction we viewed 
the savage creature that had long before 
come ‘^s’ nigh makin’ ’er supper olf’n 
us!” 

According to hunters’ custom the skin 
was given to Mac, as he had drawn the first 
blood. We had aroused many deer on the 


118 


FLOEIDA .WILDS 


hunt, but it was against the rules of the 
craft to fire on them when after such game 
as bear or panther. 

So after we had quenched our thirst 
from the little spring Old Hugh had found/ 
before while hunting his ‘^hawgs,’^ and 
bathing our faces and hands, we took up 
the panther skin and started home. 

‘ ‘Blow the signal now, Mac, that the hunt 
is over, so father will know, ’ ’ I said. 

“Ay golly!’’ he said, “he must be — two 
mile away.” 

“Yes, but such a blast as you can blow 
can easily reach him across the lake, which 
now lies between him and us.” 

Mac raised his horn to his lips, in the 
same fond way we had seen him do before, 
and we all stood still to listen. 

There could not have been a sound more 
sweet and soothing at the close of the great 
excitement of the day than the plaintive 
notes of that unparalleled hunting-horn. 
Three long, trembling blasts passed away 
on the aerial waves, over the limpid waters, 
and were echoed back from the distant 
shores of the lake’s round rim, producing a 
strange, musical medley of sound as echo 
met echo over the center of the heaven- 
reflecting mirror. 

None of us moved a muscle during these 
moments, and as the charm died away the 


FLOEIDA WILDS 119 

dogs set up a mournful howl, and we all 
recovered, Old Hugh remarking: 

‘‘By granny! Mac, thet horn o’ yourn 
jest put er spell on ther hull uv us I” 

“Ay golly! boys,” said Mac, reverently, 
“it seems to me I hear — ^my mother’s spirit 
singin’, when the music of my hawn is 
goin’ — thro’ the air.” 

There was a tear in the eye of our humor- 
ous friend when he said this; and we 
wended our way in silence for a few mo- 
ments, when two reports in quick succes- 
sion of a big shotgun reached our ears from 
a distance, and Old Hugh said: 

“By granny! boys, thet soun’s lik’ ther 
ol’ Captain’s big double-barrel gun!” 

“I reckon,” said Mac, recovering his 
spirit, “he is answerin’ — the signal.” 

“Mebbe so,” said Old Hugh, “but I’m 
gittin’ pow’ful hongry, an’ I hope hit 
means some o ’ them deer we skeered went 
er flyin’ down thet way. Ef so, we’ll hev 
fresh venzin fur supper ; fur I tell ye, when 
ther ol’ Captain shoots, hit means meat in 
ther pot!” 

Old Hugh was right. When we came up 
with father he had two splendid deer, and 
our supper was enjoyed with a keen relish 
after the excessive fatigue of the day. 

We persuaded Old Hugh and Bud and 
Mac to remain and partake of it with us, 


120 


FLOEIDA .WILDS 


and father was intensely interested in the 
details of the hunt as we recounted around 
the board the thrilling events of the day. 

‘^You were lucky not to lose her alto- 
gether,’’ said father, ‘‘after she got into 
the Devil’s Den.” 

“Yaas, sir,” said Old Hugh, “thet’s so. 
Captain ; fur ef she hed got er leetle f urder 
we never c’d er follered ’er. Fer, I tell ye, 
boys, by granny ! hit got ther right name^ — 
Devil’s Den; an’ ’tain’t no livin’ man kin 
go inter ther middle o’ them diggin’s, es 
the yairth’s s’ saft in thar hit’d all but bog 
er buzzard’s shadder.” 

“Ay golly!” Mac responded, “I 
wouldn’t say no man — could go through 
there — an’ I don’t care if it is — the wal- 
lowin’ and coolin’ otf place of the ol’ boy — • 
from what I have seen a-huntin’ with ’em, 
I believe Eddie an’ Spot can go anywhere 
in this world — the devil hisself can travel. ’ ’ 


THE BEE TEEE AND THE PLAN FOR 
A CAMP HUNT 

CHAPTER I 

‘^Ahem!’’ — sometlimg seemed to jar the 
ground. My mother looked up, and Old 
Hugh stood at the gate. 

‘‘Good morning, Uncle Hugh,’^ she said; 
“wonT you come in?’’ 

“Mawnin’, Mis’ Alb ’ton. No, marm, I 
thank ye; I hain’t ther time. I jest come 
by ter tell ye thet es I went out ter-day ter 
hunt some hawgs, I happen ter cas’ m’ eye 
up an’ seed some bees er gwine inter er 
hole in er pine, an’ I knowed I bed foun’ 
er bee-tree. Hit’s over ther hill thar, er 
piece, an’ we’re gwine ter cut hit nex’ 
Saddy, an’ I ’lowed I’d come by an’ ax ye 
all ter come to ther cuttin’.” 

‘ ‘ Thank you. Uncle Hugh ; come by when 
you are ready, and some of us will join 
you. ’ ’ 

“All right, marm. Good mawnin’ — I 
mus’ be er gittin’ back ter m’ farm,” and 
off he started, with a brisk, business-like 
121 


122 FLOEIDA .WILDS 

step, as if in a Imriy. Suddenly he stop- 
ped, hesitated a moment, as if trying to re- 
call something that had escaped his mem- 
ory. 

‘^Oh!^’ he exclaimed, as if just remem- 
bering, and came back to the gate. ‘ ‘ Mis ’ 
Alb ’ton, he said, with a sort of unimpor- 
tant air, ‘‘my ol’ ’oman toP me ter ax ye, 
ef ye c’d len’ her er leetle cauffee, an’ I like 
ter f ergot hit!” 

The old fellow was an inveterate coffee 
drinker, and often came or sent to “borry 
er leetle ’ ’ ; and it was always done in this 
way. The idea seemed to be to endeavor to 
make an impression that the errand was 
not specially for so insignificant a want as 
the coffee, and that really that part of the 
business was so trifling it would be almost 
forgotten. It never was, however ! 

Funny people these good-natured, kind- 
hearted Crackers! They would cordially 
and sincerely press you to accept as a loan, 
or even a gift, almost any little thing they 
had which you might seem to need, but 
wanted you to feel that they were always 
indifferent to their own wants. This might 
have been caused by diffidence, but they 
seemed to have a habit of slyly attempting^ 
to conceal their real motives for doing 
many things, as evidenced by the old ruse 
already mentioned, of always being in 


FLORIDA .WILDS 123 

search of those persistently absent swine, 
when they acquired game, or located the 
home of wild honey bees. 

Mother always cheerfully loaned the 
colfee, which they were faithful to return 
after their next visit ‘‘ter town.’’ 

On the appointed Saturday they came by, 
and some of the female portion of the fam- 
ily went with them to “the cutting.” The 
tree was felled, and smoke from burning 
rags applied to the bees as they swarmed 
out, until they were overpowered by its in- 
fluence, when the tree was opened, under 
the smoke, and the honey removed without 
trouble, which the generous people divided 
with our family. 

An amusing incident occurred during the 
little neighborly affair. While all were 
busily engaged, enveloped in the dense 
smoke, a horseman, with his “town 
clothes” on, as Old Hugh expressed it, 
rode up. 

“Hello, there!” he shouted. 

“Hello!” answered Old Hugh, who rec- 
ognized him at once as a Government agent, 
and immediately increased the smoke 
around himself to conceal his own identity. 

“Hello, I say!” repeated the man on 
horseback. 

“Waal, stranger,” answered Old Hugh, 
“what will ye hev?” 


124 FLOEIDA WILDS 

^^Do you know/^ demanded the officer, 
‘Hhat the tree you have cut there stood on 
Government land ? ^ ’ 

‘‘Waal, I don’t know es I hev seed ther 
Government lines.” 

“Well, come out of that smoke so that I 
can see you,” ordered the agent; adding: 
“I want to take your name down and re- 
port you. It’s the Government business 
I’m on!” 

“Waal, I’m pow’ful busy right now, 
stranger, but I’ll sen’ some o’ my fr’en’s 
out ter see ye in er minnit. ’ ’ 

So saying, the cunning old fellow gath- 
ered up a handful of the stupefied bees and 
threw them immediately under the hind 
legs of the horse, which the man had urged 
as close up to the scene as he could without 
getting into the smoke, which he seemed 
anxious to avoid. The bees, upon reaching 
fresh air, instantly recovered their activity, 
and as soon applied the same to the horse ’s 
hinder parts with extraordinary vigor. 

The animal was a fiery steed under ordi- 
nary circumstances, and now, having some 
fifty bee stings popped into his hams and 
around his tail, he did not need his rider’s 
spurs to urge him, but dashed, in spite of 
bit and rein, down the road at breakneck 
speed. 

“I reck’n, by granny!” remarked Old 


FLOEIDA iWILDS 125 

Hugh, stepping out of the smoke now and 
gazing after the flying horseman, ‘Hhe 
Government’s bizness is er callin’ ’im purty 
pyert somewhars else jest erbout this 
time ! ’ ’ 

With a laugh, the work was resumed, 
and when complete the party came away. 

^^When is Edvin an’ Jacksin er cornin’ 
home ergin. Mis’ Alb ’ton?” Old Hugh 
asked as they stopped awhile on their way 
home with the honey. 

About Christmas, Uncle Hugh; they 
write they will come for a week’s stay.” 

‘^Waal, by granny, I mus’ see Mac, an’ 
we mus ’ git up er bear hunt et thet time to 
celerbrate the ’r comin ’. ’ ’ 

‘‘Well, I know they will enjoy that, and 
appreciate your kindness, too. They are 
so fond of the sport and it will be a recrea- 
tion for them. ’ ’ 

“ Waal, we’ll all be pow’ful glad ter see 
’em, an’ me an’ Mac ’ll make some fun fer 
’em, sart’in.” 

“Thank you. Uncle Hugh; that will be 
very kind, and they will be happy, I know. ’ ’ 

“Uncle Hugh,” said one of the children, 
“do you think that officer will come back 
to bother you about the bee-tree?” 

“Waal, no, I don’t think he will; from 
what I know erbout bees, I ’low thet boss 
will run erbout ten mile afore they git done 


126 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


stingin’ ’im; an’ by tbet time bit’ll be 
night, an’ he’ll hev ter stop some’rs tell 
mawnin’, an’ then he’ll know thar won’t be 
nobody eroun’ thet bee-tree. An’ then es 
he couldn’t see through ther smoke, he 
don’t know hit was me thet was thar. By 
granny! hit wa’n’t nothin’ nohow but er 
holler tree, an’ ’tain’t no loss ter ther Gov- 
er’ment; an’ I know ef he’d er foun’ hit, 
an’ hadn’t er been skeered uv ther bees, 
he’d er cut thet tree his self.” 

McLeod was seen, and the hunt was ar- 
ranged for Christmas week. 

Glad to get away once more from the 
monotony of our tedious work, Jackson 
and I were enjoying our visit to the family 
with no little satisfaction, when one day 
Old Hugh and Mac came over. 

‘‘Hello, boys, by granny!” said our old 
friend, grasping our hands with vise-like 
grip, and his bronzed face lighting up. 

“I’m pow’ful glad ter see ye, ol’ fel- 
lers ! ’ ’ and he looked as happy as if greet- 
ing his own sons. 

“Well, boys, ay golly — I come in for — 
the next hand-shake — an’ I am as glad — 
to see you as Uncle Hugh !” 

It was a mutual pleasure to meet these 
good friends, and after the greetings were 
over we proceeded to arrange for the hunt, 


FLOEIDA WILDS 127 

Old Hugh reminding us that he was in a 
hurry to get back to his farm. 

‘ ‘ When and where did you decide to go V^ 
we asked, impatient as they were for the 
excitement. 

‘‘Waal, boys, me an’ Mac has talked hit 
over, an’ we wants ter git all outen ye fel- 
lers we kin, while ye air hyer. So we 
’lowed ’twould be best ter hev er camp 
hunt; an’ then we c’n set eroun’ et night 
an’ talk an’ see more uv ye ’n we could jest 
on er day hunt. What do ye think uv hit ? ” 
“Why, that would suit us exactly. We 
are anxious to get into the woods and are 
sure we would enjoy a night of camping 
extremely well,” we answered. 

“That’s what I say,” put in Mac. “A 
camp hunt will — give us the most fun ; we 
can set up, as Uncle Hugh says, an’ — swap 
lies around the camp-fire; an’ the next day 
we ’ll be on the ground for an early start. ’ ’ 
“All right ; where shall we camp ? ’ ’ 
“Waal, boys, I ’low out on Bear’s Creek 
’d be ther best place. Over thar erbout er 
mile from whar hit comes outen ther Big 
Furrest, purty close,” looking at me, “ter 
whar ye an’ me an’ Bud come ’pon them 
wolves thet Sunday mawnin’, when ye were 
arter thet deer ye fellers hed killed. ’ ’ 
“Yes,” I said, remembering that inci- 
dent with an old hunter’s keen relish, “I 


128 


FLORIDA WILDS 


liaven’t forgotten that exciting event. Do 
you think there are any bear over there 
liowV^ 

‘^Oh, yes!’’ replied the old hunter, with 
much eagerness. ‘‘I was over thar t’other 
day, er lookin’ fer my hawgs, an’ seed lots 
er sign. Ye see they’re cornin’ out thar 
now er feedin’ on ther live oak ac’ns, an’ 
they keeps my hawgs skeered off an’ gits 
all ther ac’ns the’rselves, an’ once’n while 
gits er hawg bersides.” 

‘‘Reckon — ay golly! you didn’t find — 
your hogs there — did you. Uncle Hugh!” 

“No, by granny! thar wa’n’t er fresh 
hawg track thar in ther hull diggin’s.” 

“You didn’t git — nothin’, then, to pay 
you — for that hog hunt, eh?” asked Mac, 
winking at me. 

“Yaas; as I were er proggin’ erbout, 
lookin’ for my hawg sign, er ol’ buck 
jumped up pine-blank in my way, an’ I 
shot ’im down,” answered the old fellow, 
indifferently. 

“Ay golly! them hogs of your’n gener- 
ally — get you some venison anyhow. Uncle 
Hugh,” rejoined Mac, pulling down his 
slouch hat so as to hide another glance he 
shot at me. 

“Yaas,” said the old hunter, with a sigh, 
“but they makes me lose lots uv time from 
m’ farm.” 


FLOEIDA WILDS 129 

Mac and I assented to this, regretfully, 
and then we all proceeded to complete the 
arrangements for the camp hunt. 

The next afternoon found us — Old Hugh, 
McLeod, Jackson and myself — with mule 
and cart and the whole camping outfit on 
a straw and leaf-covered little plateau, un- 
der some great spreading live-oaks and tall 
pines, about half a mile from the point at 
which the hunt was to begin. 

‘‘Thetis nigh ernough, boys,’’ said Old 
Hugh, ^Her ef we git too nigh them var- 
mints will see ther light o’ our fire an’ 
s ’picion sumthin ’s up. ’ ’ 


CHAPTER II 

ABOUND THE CAMP-FIRE 

The mule was fed and tied, and a hot 
fire made from the dry wood that lay plen- 
tifully around; the kettle was swung by ex- 
perienced hands, and water from a little 
spring nearby was soon boiling for the 
coffee. By the time this was ready a lib- 
eral supply of bacon and venison was sliced 
and broiled on the red-hot coals, and the 
appetizing odor from these and the de- 
lightful aroma of the coffee prepared us to 


130 


FLOEIDA .WILDS 


relish them with our cold bread and sweet 
potatoes. One who has never been on a 
camp hunt cannot appreciate the keen en- 
joyment of such a supper experienced by 
sturdy hunters in the fragrant atmosphere 
of the wild woods. 

‘‘Ay golly began Mac, “this reminds 
me — of oD times, biting off a mouthful of 
venison and crowding in a huge piece of 
bacon with it at the same time. 

“Ye Ve been on er camp hunt afore this, 
then, hev ye T ’ queried Old Hugh, gulping 
down great draughts of steaming coffee 
from his tin cup. 

‘ ‘ Golly, yes ! ’ ’ exclaimed Mac, ‘ ‘ ^n after 
bigger game — than’s in this country.’^ 

“Ye ain’t seed ther ol’ king bear o’ these 
diggings yit, er ye wouldn’t be er braggin’ 
thet er way,” replied Old Hugh, filling up 
his cup again. 

“No; but. Uncle Hugh,” rejoined Mac, 
raising his own cup to his lips and washing 
down his bread and meat with a big drink, 
“the bear don’t grow — as big here as I’ve 
seen. ’ ’ 

“Whar did ye see ’em?” asked Uncle 
Hugh, not willing to concede that any coun- 
try could produce larger game than he was 
accustomed to. 

“I seen ’em up in the — Eocky Moun- 
tains,” answered Mac. 


FLOEIDA iWILDS 131 

‘‘Them’s what they calls ther grizzlies, 
wa’n’t hit?” 

“Yes; an’ ay golly! party near — as big 
as a cow.” 

“Waal, I hain’t seed none o’ yourn, but 
I’ll show ye ther track o’ one ter-morrer 
thet hit ’d push one o’ your’n ter beat.” 

“Hasn’t that old king bear been killed 
yet, Uncle Hugh?” I asked, remembering 
the wily old fellow that had for years 
eluded me and every hunter in the neigh- 
borhood, and feasted on anybody’s pork at 
pleasure. 

“No, by granny! but, Edvin, I’m kind o’ 
glad uv ’t, fer he’s ther feller I’m arter 
now in partickler. I might er killed him 
afore this, but I ’lowed I’d save ’im up fer 
er hunt with ye boys some time when ye 
come home, an’ thet ’d give ye more fun; 
an’ I’m hopin’ ye’ll kill him yerse’f es he’s 
got erway from me an’ you s’ of ’in.” 

‘ ‘ Thank you. Uncle Hugh. Does he roam 
out this way now?” 

“Yaas, I seed his track out hyer t’other 
day. There’s sev’l others, too, but he’s 
got ther biggest track o’ any uv ’em,” 
added the old hunter, doing justice to the 
meat and bread, and leading by a large ma- 
jority in the drinks of coffee. 

“I came pretty near to getting a shot at 
him before I left home some years ago,” 


132 FLORIDA iWILDS 

said J ackson. ‘ ‘ He had caught a hog dovm 
our way, and I heard it squeal and ran in 
that direction; but the sly old rascal had 
quickly killed it, and hearing me coming 
had slipped away. I waited for him to 
come back, but he did not return that day. 
So at night I chmbed a tree and watched 
for him by moonlight. About midnight I 
heard a movement in the bushes, and pres- 
ently saw a dark object approaching the 
carcass across an open space and within 
good gunshot. I had an old musket Edwin 
had brought home with him from the army, 
and taking the best aim I could in the moon- 
light, I fired, distance about thirty yards. 
1 guess the bear rolled over, but at that 
moment I was too much engaged otherwise 
to see, for the old musket kicked me out of 
that tree and I tumbled about ten feet to 
the ground ! ^ ’ 

'‘Ay golly!’’ interrupted Mac, "Jack, 
that was purty good — at your end of the 
gun; how’d you say — ^it was at the bear’s 
end ? ’ ’ 

"Well,” said Jackson, "as soon as I 
could pick myself up — I was nearly out of 
breath but not hurt — I listened, but could 
hear no noise ; and then I went to investi- 
gate and found my bear dead. 

' ' But it did not look as large as I thought 
the king bear was, and next day when I 


FLORIDA WILDS 133 

went down to see about it I found that I 
bad killed a big she-bear, but the old king 
bad escaped. I examined closely for his 
track, for I was sure it was he that had 
killed the hog the day before — his foot, as 
Uncle Hugh says, makes a track that can’t 
be mistaken. I found it some twenty feet 
away from where the she-bear lay, and evi- 
dently he had, with his usual cunning it 
seemed, let his mate go ahead and take all 
the risks, and when she fell he took to his 
heels. The ground was tom up by his 
great claws as he dashed away from dan- 
ger. ’ ’ 

“Waal, by granny!” said Old Hugh, 
wiping his mouth on his sleeve and picking 
his teeth with a small, pointed bone taken 
from the fore leg of a deer, “I’ll bet we’ll 
s ’prise ther ol’ feller yit. I’ve progged 
around hyer tell I know purty well whar he 
lays uv er day, an’ when we slip on his den 
an’ put ther dogs right suddent outer ’im, 
he won’t have no time ter be er puttin’ any 
more mates ’twixt him an’ danger.” 

“What is your plan. Uncle Hugh?” we 
asked, tacitly agreeing that his superior ex- 
perience better prepared him to direct the 
hunt than any other man of the party. 

“Waal,” he said, “me an’ Jackson ’ll go 
inter ther thick with ther dogs, an’, Edvin, 
ye an’ Mac ’ll tek yer s tan’s. Ther place 


134 FLOEIDA tWILDS 

whar I think he’s er layin’ is in that er big 
scrub on ther creek whar yer paw killed the 
old she-bear an’ her young uns, erbout ten 
year ago ; ye know whar hit is. Now ye go 
together to t’other side, an’ put Mac ter 
stan’ at that pow’ful tall pine tree whar 
ther eagle’s nest wuz — er ol’ Injun trail 
comes out right thar, ye know — an’ ye go 
furder roun’ to whar ther ol’ wolf path 
leads outer thar thick. Ye reckerleck whar 
all them places is, Edvin?” 

‘‘Yes,” I replied, “I used to hunt deer 
along that way often.” 

“Waal, now, ef me an’ Jackson starts 
him, he’s more’n apt ter come out on one 
er t’other er them trails an’ make off fer 
ther Big Furrest. Ef I fin’ he ’pears like 
he’s gwine ter cross ther creek an’ run up 
to t’other side. I’ll sen’ Jacksin over thar 
whar Bud killed er bear year afore last, an’ 
I’ll stay with ther dogs an’ then we’ll hev 
’im purty well hemmed in, an’ I’ll be dad- 
busted ef I kin see how he kin git erway. ’ ’ 

The plan of the hunt being arranged, we 
fed the dogs, and put the “grub” away in 
the cart, pushed up the fire, and made our- 
selves comfortable, sitting or reclining on 
the straw, while we joined in rehearsing old 
hunting stories. Old Hugh lighted his pipe 
and said he was just “put in min’ o’ sum- 


FLORIDA iWILDS 135 

thin’ es happened on er camp hunt er way 
hack yanner whar I come from.” 

He then entertained ns for an hour with 
one yarn after another of his hunting ex- 
periences, when he was a young man, and 
‘‘didn’t hev no family ter tek keer uv, an’ 
no farm ter keep me busy.” 

When he had about run out he raised up 
suddenly and said : 

“By ^anny! Edvin, ye reckerlec’ thet 
day ye killed ther ol’ bear, an’ got ketched 
under ’im in f allin ’ ?’ ’ 

“That’s a thing I couldn’t well forget. 
Uncle Hugh,” I replied. 

“What about it. Uncle Hugh?” asked 
Mac. 

“Waal, Mac, ye know ye said thet scrape 
Ed^dn got inter put ye in min’ uv one ye 
got inter yerse’f, an’ ye promised to tell us 
erbout ’t; s’pose ye up an’ tell ’t now?” 

Mac knocked the ashes out of his pipe, 
filled it up again in silence, raking a live 
coal out of the fire onto the pipe, and com- 
menced puffing away, gazing into the em- 
bers and still keeping quiet. 

We all knew a good yarn was coming. 

“Gentlemen,” he said, slowly, “that is 
one — experience in my life I seldom speak 
of. ’ ’ 

The pipe was moved from his mouth, and 
spitting into the fire profusely, he replaced 


136 FLOEIDA WILDS 

it, emitting volumes of smoke, and resumed 
solemnly : 

‘^You see this gray spot in my — ^black 
hair on top of my headT’ he asked, remov- 
ing his hat. ^‘Well, it turned gray — that 
day, an’ it’s a wonder — I have a black hair 
left! The story is short, and I’m glad — 
there ain’t any more to tell! It was on a 
trip to the Eocky Mountains that I made^ — 
when I was about twenty-three. Every day 
we’d go a-huntin’ an’ killed mountain goat 
— an’ deer an’ wild turkeys. But we all 
wanted to tackle a grizzly. We didn’t have 
dogs, but — still hunted. We saw — sign a- 
plenty, but no grizzly. So we decided — to 
separate, an’ each man — do his own 
huntin’, cornin’ back — to camp dinner-time 
an’ evenin’. 

‘^We had seen some Injun sign, too — ^but 
’n old mountaineer, about fifty miles from 
there — told us they were all friendly. Well, 
I went my way — as agreed, along a gulch 
running — north from the camp. I killed a 
fine turkey gobbler — an’ hung him up — on 
a bush, an’ later on — I shot a buck. I hung 
him up, too — an’ thought I wouldn’t shoot 
— any more till I foun’ a grizzly. I saw 
plenty more game — ^but wouldn’t fire again. 
My way was mighty rough — an’ sometimes 
I — ^would slip an’ fall, mos’ on my head. I 
was so bent — on findin’ my grizzly — ^I for- 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


137 


got about dinner-time, an’ it was gettin’ — 
late in the afternoon. About that time — a 
whole herd of mountain goats — come 
tearin’ by me — an’ I knew somethin’ had 
scared ’em. I stopped an’ looked — every 
way an’ listened. Then the clouds cornin’ 
up — hid the sun an’ — I got turned around, 
an’ — when I started on, I foun’ I was lost ! 

‘‘You can’t see any tracks in the rocky 
places — an’ I was walkin’ over some big 
rocks — an’ was in a place where they was 
sometimes awful high — an’ sometimes low 
— an’ where caves — an’ precipices — an’ 
abysses would meet me — every way I’d 
turn — it all seemed the same. One time I 
was on a high rock, an’ I couldn’t tell — 
how I got there. On every side of me there 
seemed to be a — deep gulch about twenty 
feet wide — an’ a hundred deep. Up above 
me — ^were great high cliffs — an’ tall peaks. 
The clouds got blacker as I looked up — an’ 
below me, down the mountain-side I — 
could see another black cloud — an’ about 
that time — there was an awful clap of thun- 
der — with a blazin’ streak of lightnin’ — 
that shot down the mountain-side — an ’ sent 
big rocks — ^big as a house' — to the bottom 
of the valley below. 

“All this made the place^ — ^where I stood 
shake an’ tremble — like an’ earthquake, an’ 
— I give you my word I saw a blue smoke — 


138 FLORIDA .WILDS 

an* smelt sulphur — an’ heard soun’s an’ 
echoes — from the dark abysses an’ caverns 
— around an’ below me^ — like shrieks an’ 
groans of human beings. Then come more 
streaks of lightnin’ — an’ more terrible 
thunder — more tremblin’ under my feet — 
more blue smoke, an’ more smell of sulphur 
— more cries an’ groans, an’ ay golly! — I 
shook like a leaf, an’ thought — I must have 
stumbled upon the edge of hell itself ! 

‘‘I didn’t want to get no closer — an’ I 
turned to run t’other way — an’ foun’ the 
trail I had come on, an’ was flyin’ — I 
thought from the devil — ^when I heard sich 
a yell — above me, as I hope I may never — 
hear again in this world or the next I 

‘‘I stopped an’ looked up — an’ a hun- 
dred feet above me — on a projectin’ rock — 
stood a gang of painted Injuns, with feath- 
ers stickin’ out all over ’em an’ — their guns 
pointed at me! I raised my ban’s to beg 
for my life — ^but they only laughed like 
demons — an’ turned loose their guns on 
me — an’ sent bullets whizzin’ all aroun’ me 
— one strikin’ my hat an’ grazin’ my head 
— up there where you see that gray hair ! 

^‘I fell, an’ when I rose again — they had 
all disappeared — an’ I supposed they were 
cornin’ after my scalp! I started on — in a 
run, but had only gone a few — yards far- 
ther, when just ahead of me^ — about twenty 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


139 


feet above me — I heard a terrible growl. 
Lookin^ up, there stood my grizzly — the 
biggest I ever seen! But I didn’t want — 
to see him then — though I had been huntin’ 
’im a long time. He was crouchin’ — to 
spring down on me — an’ I jumped back- 
ward an’ threw up my rifle — an’ hollered, 
‘Lawd, have mussy on my soul!’ an’ — fired 
just as he leaped. The bullet struck him 
plumb — in the forehead, an’ he fell dead — 
but in his tumble he got me^ — under his 
head an’ breast, like that black bear had 
Eddie — an’ I thought he eat me up — an’ 
didn’t know no more — till the boys from 
camp foun’ me — an’ pulled ’im oft!” 

Mac now tapped his pipe on his shoe 
heel, emptied it of its ashes, put it in his 
jacket pocket, rose to his feet and said : 

‘‘Now, boys — ay golly! — all this is a 
fact!” 

“Ye never tell nuthin’ else, I s’pose,” 
said Uncle Hugh, winking at us. ‘ ‘ But how 
erbout them Injuns ? Thought ye said they 
was all frien’ly?” 

“So they were, an’ I — ^heard afterwards, 
from an ol’ native^ — that was only a way 
they had — of scarin’ strangers just for 
fun!” 

“Waal, fellers, hit’s time to turn in. ^ I 
hope ter-morrer we’ll hev some fun with 


140 FLORIDA WILDS 

more substant in it these fac’s Mac’s er 
givin’ us.” 

Well, Eddie,” said Mac, coming around 
and clapping me on the shoulder, ‘ ‘ there ’s 
one tiling happened since — ^you fellers went 
away, I want — to tell you about before we 
go to bed.” 

^‘What’s that, Mac?” I asked, knowing 
my humorous Scotchman so well that I 
could understand how difficult it was for 
him to stop his yarn spinning when he got 
started, and was willing to lose a little 
more sleep to hear him through. 

‘‘Well,” he said, his eye twinkling with 
fun, “I went down to oP Middleton — some 
time ago where you said you was bawn; 
an’ I saw one of your old sweethearts you 
tol ’ me — you was raised up ’long side of. ’ ’ 

“Well,” I said, “didn’t you think she 
was pretty?” 

“Purty! Golly, man, I should say — she 
was! But her face wasn’t nothin’ com- 
pared — to her foot!” 

“Yes, I remember; she is about twenty 
years old and wears a miss’s shoe. No. 2. 
But how did you see her foot?” 

“Well, I was settin’ in church — Sunday 
momin’, an’ heard a silk dress a-rus’lin’ 
at the door — an’ I looked roun’ — just in 
time to see — ^her foot, as she stepped up — 
on the door-sill. Golly! man, it was the 


FLORIDA WILDS 141 

piirtiest sight I ever seen — since I was 
bawn 1 ’ ’ 

‘‘Aw! Mac/’ drawled Old Hugh, “dry 
up, an’ let’s go ter sleep an’ git ready fer 
thet hunt ter-morrer, fer I jest feel it in 
my bones hit’s gwine ter be er big un.” 

“All right. Uncle Hugh — in a minute; 
but, Eddie, you know what I thought?” 

“No, Mac, I don’t know what you 
thought, but I suppose you would have 
married that girl if you could?” 

“Yes, ay golly! I’d marry all sich women 
as that!” 

“Well, was that what you thought?” 

“No; I thought, ‘Oh! if I could — lace a 
Balmoral shoe on that foot — ay golly! I’d 
climb the highest pine — I could find an’ 
jump out an’ break my neck!’ ” 

Old Hugh raised up on one elbow. 

“An’, by granny!” he exclaimed, “what 
in ther devil would ye do thet fer?” 

‘ ‘ Golly ! man, I want to die — happy when 
I die in this world, an’ I’d never die hap- 
pier ’n that!” 

We joined in a roar of laughter. Old 
Hugh adding: 

“Aw! Mac, ye mus’ be er dad-blamed 
fool, by granny!” 

Mac laughed at this good-natured, back- 
handed compliment as we pulled the blank- 


142 


FLOEIDA .WILDS 


ets over us, lying on the straw with feet 
to the fire, and were soon asleep. 


CHAPTER in 

THE MEMOEABLE BEAE HUNT 

It was a most refreshing sleep that we 
sturdy men enjoyed, with no floor between 
our bodies and the earth beneath but a thin 
coat of leaves and straw, and no canopy 
over our heads but the starlit heavens 
above, save that extended by the out- 
stretched boughs of the friendly trees. 

Nothing disturbed that blissful slumber 
— pity the one who has never experienced 
such sleep — and no sound was heard, ex- 
cept as we turned over now and then and 
filled our lungs to their utmost capacity 
with the pure air we might, in sinking back 
to sleep again, be half conscious of the hoot- 
ing of distant owls, or hear the growl of 
the dogs as some wild animal passed within 
range of their smelling faculties. 

Before the dawn. Old Hugh was up, put- 
ting more wood on the fire and preparing 
his coffee, which he must have first of all 
things. By the time the sun was up we had 
all breakfasted and fed the dogs and mule. 


FLORIDA .WILDS 143 

A white frost lay all over the grass, but we 
did not mind that — we all felt as if we had 
taken on new life after that delightful 
sleep, and dogs are never so full of the 
hunting spirit as on a frosty morning. 

So, as the sun came up with a glory that 
can be seen only in such wild woods on such 
a morning, we left the camp and started for 
the hunt, thrilled with that pleasant antici- 
pation known only to hunters on like oc- 
casions. Old Hugh was in the lead through 
the ^‘open,’’ and we followed silently, in 
Indian fashion, single file. Soon the scrub 
where my ^^paw’^ had killed the she-bear 
and her cubs was reached. Old Hugh 
paused and scrutinized the ground about 
him carefully. We stood still and awaited 
directions; while the impatient dogs, with 
their bristles raised, were smelling the 
earth and bushes vigorously. 

‘^Hyer it is, boys, by granny!’’ the old 
hunter exclaimed in a low tone. We came 
up, and he pointed to the impressions on 
the sand, made by the paws and hind feet 
of the bear, the latter closely resembling 
the bare foot of a human being. There 
were different sizes, showing that several 
of the animals had been '‘proggin’ ” 
about; but the track of the old king bear 
seemed nearly twice the size of the others. 
Acorn hulls lay plentifully around on the 


144 FLORIDA .WILDS 

ground where the creatures had been feed- 
ing, and the half -dry bones of several hogs 
also bore evidence of the recent presence 
of our game. 

The trained dogs, with their bristles 
stiffen and tails curled high, paused, 
whined, and looked up to us for the signal 
to ^^go.^’ 

^‘Boys,’’ said Old Hugh, under breath, 
‘‘by granny! we’re gwine ter hev er big 
time; an’ now, Edvin, ye an’ Mac git ter 
stan’s quick as ye kin; an’ me an’ Jacksin 
’ll wait hyer tell ye hev time ter git thar. 
An’ now, boys, reckerlec’ this ain’t nuthin’ 
but er hear hunt ter-day!” 

We all assented, and Mac and I moved 
off, silently and briskly, each of us signal- 
ing our dogs to remain with the drivers. 

They whined and fretted with impa- 
tience, but seemed to understand what was 
wanted, and waited for the word that would 
let them loose on the trail of the bears. 
Mac and I had scarcely taken our respec- 
tive positions when we heard the first yelps 
of the dogs. They were on the track, and 
their occasional barks enabled the drivers 
to follow them intelligently, and kept the 
standers apprised of their whereabouts. 

A deer dashed out by Mac and he in- 
stinctively raised his gun, but remembering 
Old Hugh’s injunction, quickly lowered it, 


FLORIDA iWILDS 145 

looking grudgingly after the white tail.” 
About this time another went whizzing by 
me and I felt as much regret in letting it 
pass ; but we were after the game ‘ ‘ et ther 
top o^ ther pile,” as Old Hugh expressed 
it, and we could not afford to fire a gun 
that might attract the dogs from the bear 
trail, or that would betray to the bear our 
presence at the stands. So we waited, and 
by the more frequent barks of the dogs we 
knew the scent was getting warmer. 

The scrub extended out for more than 
half a mile, and the dogs were getting 
nearer the banks of the stream. Presently 
they turned abruptly away from that 
course to the highest and densest part of 
the scrub; and this brought them toward 
the standers, though still half a mile away, 
and evidently the game had not yet 
‘ ^ jumped. ’ ^ Suddenly, however, there was 
a loud outcry of the whole pack and a tre- 
mendous crashing through the bushes, and 
we knew Bruin had left his lair. I could 
see Mac from my position, and he had his 
gun half way to his shoulder, pointing to 
the outlet of the trail he was guarding ; and 
I knew he was thrilled with excitement, as 
from the tearing of the bushes the game 
seemed coming his way. Louder and 
fiercer and nearer sounded the cry of the 
dogs, and closer came the reckless rush 


146 


FLOBIDA WILDS 


through the scrub, when Mac’s big gun 
went quickly to his face, and the next min- 
ute roared like a burst of thunder. I saw 
Mac make a dash in the direction he had 
shot, withholding the fire of the second bar- 
rel, and then he yelled, and in the next 
breath he shouted: 

‘‘Blood, ay golly!” 

I was trembling with excitement, hoping 
as the dogs whirled abruptly back toward 
the stream, they would turn again my way. 
But now they seemed to be making a cir- 
cuit; the game, wounded and alarmed, was 
not willing to make another break for the 
“open.” 

The yelling of the drivers had ceased, 
and I knew they were prepared for the 
game to dash back in their direction; but 
the circuit the dogs were making reminded 
me of the tricks of the panther we had 
chased a year before. This was not usual 
with bear, but as Old Hugh had said, being 
hemmed in by the hunters, the animal could 
not easily find its way out to its home in 
Big Forest. For some twenty minutes this 
round-and-round process continued, when 
another direct break for the creek was 
made ; and the next sound that greeted our 
ears was the ringing crack of my brother’s 
rifle across the creek Old Hugh had shown 
his good generalship and provided, as he 


FLORIDA .WILDS 


147 


planned, against this way of escape, and I 
heard Jackson yell, and, like Mac, cry out: 

^‘Blood!’’ 

Still our game was ‘^game,” sure enough, 
and, in spite of blood at two points, and of 
yells and dogs, the race for life started up 
again on our side of the creek, the course 
being down stream. Old Hugh was back in 
that direction, so I felt satisfied as to this 
turn, though I was beginning to fear that, 
as in certain panther hunts, I wouldn’t get 
any shot at all. At this instant, bang! 
sounded again, and it was Old Hugh’s rifie. 
Then came a war-whoop from the lungs of 
the old hunter, and a shout : 

^ ‘ Blood, erg ’in, by granny ! ’ ’ 

In another moment the dogs stopped 
chasing, and we thought by the change in 
their tone the game was dead. Within a 
few minutes, however, we heard Old Hugh 
setting them out again on the trail, while 
he shouted to us : 

‘^Keep ter yer stan’s!” 

I could not understand all this — it 
seemed as though the old king must have a 
charmed life; so I took hope that I might 
get a chance yet to try my hand at the fin- 
ish. Away went the pack, in full cry up the 
creek, and Old Hugh yelling behind them. 
I beckoned to Mac to come to my stand 
while I hurried around the scrub toward 


148 FLOEIDA .WILDS 

the upper part of the stream, thinking the 
old fellow might not again try to escape 
by any path, but would attempt to force his 
way through a most densely tangled jungle 
that lay between my stand and the creek. 

As I reached about the point that the 
dogs seemed coming toward, suddenly they 
stopped and bayed. Old Hugh yelled to 
them, but they only bayed ; yet, not as they 
usually did around a carcass or at the root 
of a tree. My practiced ear told me the 
game had taken to the water, and I listened 
every moment for my brother to shoot 
again. 

In a few moments Old Hugh had reached 
the spot, and I heard him shout, ^‘Look out, 
Jacksin!’^ but no other sound followed ex- 
cept a confused baying and low howling of 
the dogs. They had already crossed the 
creek, but could find no trace of the game 
on that side. They swam back to Old Hugh, 
took up the track again a few yards back in 
the scrub, and followed it to the water’s 
edge. At that time Jackson appeared on 
the other side, but could find no sign of the 
bear’s egress from the water. 

‘^You reckon he got into the water and 
was so wounded that he drowned. Uncle 
Hugh?” he asked. 

''No, by granny!” said the keen old 
hunter. "He’s done better ’n thet! He 


FLORIDA .WILDS 


149 


went right in hyer, and he swum up ther 
creek toward Big Furrest, ther very place 
we wanted ter head ’im off frum, an’ he’s 
come out ergin, one side or t’other, furder 
up. 

‘^Ye tek some o’ ther dogs an’ go up on 
yer side, an’ I’ll tek ther balance an’ go up 
this ’n ” And then putting his hand up to 
his mouth to imitate a speaking trumpet, 
he shouted: 

‘‘Hello!” 

I answered : 

“Hello!” 

And the big voice resumed : 

“He’s swum up ther creek. Push on fer 
Big Furrest!” 

I repeated the message to Mac, and led 
the way in a run, Mac following. The 
woods being open we made good speed ; and 
the wild animals having made a well-beaten 
path beside the stream on either side, the 
drivers and dogs also pressed forward with 
rapidity. In half an hour the track was 
struck afresh where the old wily fellow had 
come out of the water on Old Hugh’s side, 
and made otf into the swamp. He was only 
a few minutes ahead, however, as in swim- 
ming he could not travel nearly so fast as 
the men and dogs in a run on foot, and the 
bushes were still dripping with water 
caught from his long hair. 


150 FLOEIDA .WILDS 

The dogs dashed after him with loud and 
joyous outcries; my brother found a log 
across the stream, ran over, and joined Old 
Hugh, both yelling behind the dogs. Mac 
and I had entered Big Forest already, and 
were a few hundred yards ahead of the 
chase. The forest was trackless, however, 
and we had to take our chances on the di- 
rection the bear would pursue. We had ex- 
changed signals before we lost sight of each 
other, and separated some distance apart 
before we took up our positions. The un- 
dergrowth was dense around us, and fur- 
ther on the swamp was boggy, and full of 
briers and closely tangled vines and un- 
yielding bushes. We hoped to get a shot 
before the game entered this great jungle 
which stretched for many miles. 

On came the chase, the dogs crying 
fiercely, and the noise of tearing through 
the dense growth right toward us came 
nearer, producing intense excitement, 
which was greatly augmented when we 
could hear at every leap the loud panting 
of the huge beast. 

One moment he veered toward Mac, but 
got the wind of him, and then he whirled 
toward me, caught the human scent again, 
and abruptly turned at a sharp angle, and 
in spite of all our efforts made his escape 
into the jungle. I knew the woods well and 


FLORIDA WILDS 


151 


could not wait to confer with Mac, who, 
however, got in sight once more as I sped 
away on a more open line between the 
jungle and the higher forest. 

I hoped to get around a bend which 
would put me ahead again, when I proposed 
to enter the jungle itself and reach, if pos- 
sible, what was known as the ‘‘Bear’s 
Trail,” that bordered the great prairie in 
the heart of Big Forest. I knew this used 
to be a favorite run with these animals; 
and the king bear and many others had es- 
caped me here when hunting alone — there 
being no one ahead of me and the dogs to 
take this stand. 

Old Hugh and Jackson had overtaken 
Mac, and the old hunter, his face full of 
intense excitement, called out quickly: 

“Whar’s Edvin?” 

“Ay golly!” said Mac, “he went a-flyin’ 
like a deer roun’ — this bend an’ dashed — 
out o’ sight the next minute — into the 
jungle ! ’ ’ 

“Waal, then, by granny! ye kin lis’n out 
— he knows whar he’s gwine! Ye fellers 
push on still furder roun’; I’m gwine in 
hyer with Edvin; thar mout be trouble 
erhead!” 

Just then the deep roar of my big double- 
barrel gun woke up the echoes in the jungle, 
and Old Hugh shouted back, as he was dis- 


152 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


appearing: ^‘What’d I tell ye^’ And at 
that moment the explosion of my other bar- 
rel followed, and I yelled, immediately an- 
swered by each of the others : 

‘ ‘ More blood ! Look out ahead ! ’ ’ as the 
big game veered around me and pressed on, 
the dogs coming in loud and fierce pursuit 
behind him. 

I had to stop to load, and I heard Old 
Hugh tearing his way past me, taking a 
shorter cut to get nearer the chase. With 
my gun quickly loaded I rushed on down 
the Bear Trail, which the animal had taken 
again ahead of me, and which Old Hugh 
reached just in time to join me, and both 
of us yelling, dashed on after the dogs 
without a word, when at that moment the 
chase stopped, the dogs baying fiercely. 

‘‘He^s stopped ter fight!’’ exclaimed Old 
Hugh. ‘‘Let’s hurry on, or, by granny! 
he’ll kill ther dogs !” 

The scene of the conflict was only a hun- 
dred yards ahead, but some minutes were 
required to get there even on the trail 
through the thicket. We constantly 
whooped to the dogs, for they needed all 
the encouragement they could get to stand 
up to the dangerous encounter in which 
they were engaged. Mac and Jackson had 
entered the jungle, too, by this time and 
were nearer than we, approaching from the 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


153 


other side and also yelling to the dogs. The 
latter, now conscious of reinforcements 
coming to them from two directions, were 
becoming very daring and getting near 
enough to the monster to receive a slap or 
a scratch, as we could tell by the frequent 
howls of pain. 

Bruin, on the other hand, surrounded by 
the fierce and determined dogs, and hear- 
ing the approach of the hunters, was be- 
coming desperate. He had his back against 
a tree, and standing on his hind feet he 
could well keep dogs at bay, but he could 
not bear the sight of men; and as he could 
not run again with the dogs catching at his 
hind legs on either side, he seemed deter- 
mined to fight all hands, if need be, to the 
death of himself or his foes. 

No time was lost in putting this last des- 
perate resolve into effect. Our two com- 
rades dashed up suddenly in front of him, 
but before they could shoot he leaped furi- 
ously at them. There was scarcely a 
chance for them to retrace a step; but the 
faithful dogs seized him by the hinder 
parts, jerking backward, and he reached 
only near enough to tear their clothes and 
slightly wound their skins with his claws. 

Their guns caught in the vines. Jackson 
was the first to recover, and sent a rifle 
bullet at him, which struck him in the tough 


154 


FLORIDA WILDS 


hide of the neck, with little damage, but 
caused him to reel, when Mac fired into 
his fleshy hams. At this instant Old Hugh 
and I arrived from the other side, and the 
infuriated beast was now facing that way. 
With an awful roar, jaws wide open, red 
tongue hanging out, and white teeth gleam- 
ing through blood and foam, he made a ter- 
rific spring at us ! 

Our guns were scarcely in position at the 
moment, on account of the vines in our way. 
Old Hughes rifle was struck by the fore- 
paws, and the bullet, intended for his brain, 
went into one shoulder, while the muzzle 
of my gun was seized the same instant in 
the awful open mouth, just as my finger 
pressed the trigger and my load tore otf 
the top of the terrible creature ^s head. 

Thus the battle was ended, and the great 
bear in all his magnificent proportions lay 
stretched out and motionless at our feet. 
Simultaneously we all waved our hats and 
gave one triumphant yell, while the dogs, 
in high glee, leaped up and down, and 
seemed to enjoy to the uttermost our com- 
mendation as we patted them on the head 
and stroked their hairy coats, which were 
wet, here and there, with their own blood, 
drawn by the claws of the bear. 

Mac was the first to speak. 


FLOEIDA WILDS 155 

golly! Uncle Hugh — I believe he is 
as big — as my grizzly ! ’ ’ 

<<By granny!’^ was the reply, ‘‘what^d 
I tell yeU’ 

My first shot, like my brother’s bullet, 
was in the neck, where the hide of an old 
bear is almost impenetrable. The next 
wounded him in the shoulder — this being 
the shot that induced him to stop a limping 
run and brace himself for a fight. 

‘‘But, ay golly!” said Mac, “where’s all 
— our other shots ? I shot him in the side. ’ ’ 

“That’s what I’d like to know,” said 
Jackson. “I’m sure I could not have 
missed him. I sent my bullet just behind 
the shoulder.” 

Old Hugh looked on in silence, with a 
sort of knowing smile, while they hunted in 
vain for their bullet holes. Finally he 
spoke ; 

“Waal, by granny! none of ye hain’t 
axed me whar I shot ’im. ’ ’ 

“That’s so, Uncle Hugh — ay golly! but 
— your shot don’t show either.” 

Then catching the peculiar expression on 
Old Hugh ’s face, Mac grew suspicious that 
some trick had been played in the hunt. 
Old Hugh enjoyed some reputation as a 
conjurer, and Mac, being a little inclined to 
superstition, turned suddenly and said : 

“Look a-here, ay golly! you didn’t — ^put 


156 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


a spell on the rest of ns — so we conldn^t 
hit, did you?*’ 

<‘By granny!” said old Hugh, laughing, 
‘‘didn’t ye both say ye seed blood?” 

“Yes, Uncle Hugh,” put in Jackson, 
“and you said so, too, when you fired.” 

Old Hugh laughed and seemed to possess 
the solution of the mystery, but was not 
ready to explain. I was as much at a loss 
to understand as either of the others, but 
all we could get out of the old hunter was : 

“Waal, boys, I tol’ ye fellers I was er 
savin’ up this ol’ bear fur Edvin ter kill. 
He didn’t git any shot on two o’ them pan- 
t’er hunts we was on, an’ I wanted ’im ter 
save his repertation. Ye didn’t s’pose I 
was gwine ter let ye fellers cheat ’im outen 
thet arter all, did ye?” 

And then turning to me he continued : 

“Waal, Edvin, I hope me an’ Mac has 
give ye an Jackson all ther fun ye wanted 
on this hunt, hain’t we?” 

“Yes, Uncle Hugh, that you have! We 
have had the very finest sort of a time out 
of the camp and the hunt. But I must con- 
fess I am curious to know what your secret 
is about the other shots that were fired; for 
you know I think you all three are excellent 
marksmen, and, besides, you all drew blood. 
And yet there is no sign on the bear of 


FLOEIDA .WILDS 157 

any of the wounds that you made before the 
fight here at this tree.^’ 

The old fellow laughed heartily, and 
casting his eye up at the sun he said : 

^‘ Waal, ye fellers ain’t no hunters, no- 
how. But hit’s not late, unly erbout ’leven 
o ’clock. Let ’s go back an ’ git ther mule an ’ 
kyart, an’ by ther time we haul this ol’ fel- 
ler outen hyer I reckin ye’ll understan’!” 

This was all the satisfaction we could 
get, so all having reloaded, we started back, 
the camp being about two miles away. 

Old Hugh led the way by the Bear Trail 
beside the creek, after we got out of the big 
swamp. When he came to the log by which 
Jackson had crossed, he said: 

‘‘We’ll go over hyer an’ see what kind o’ 
blood thet was Jacksin drawed.” 

Soon the dogs dashed away furiously on 
a trail that indeed did show blood freely on 
the bushes. In a few minutes they bayed 
significantly, and Old Hugh said : 

“Now, boys, hold yer guns ready, and 
let’s s ’round’ ’em an’ see what’s up.” 

The scrub was low, and we could see 
each other as we gradually contracted our 
circle around the point where the dogs were 
still baying. They were not b^arking 
fiercely, but seemed in high glee, and leav- 
ing their places, ran to us and then dashed 
back again. 


158 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


Old Hugh was still laughing, as we could 
see, so we shouldered our guns and walked 
boldly up, knowing there was nothing to 
shoot and beginning to suspect the nature 
of the joke. 

Sure enough, there lay Jackson’s bear — 
dead. 

‘‘Thar!” said Old Hugh, “I knowed, by 
granny! ther ol’ king had not crossed ther 
creek, an’ es I hed seed more tracks I 
’lowed hit mus’ be one o’ ther others thet 
Jacksin shot.” 

This was a happy surprise that we all 
enjoyed, and, tying its legs together, we 
swung it on a pole and took it across the 
creek, Mac remarking: 

“Well, ay golly! I must have shot — an- 
other one, too, for I’m sure — I saw the 
blood.” 

“Waal, we’ll soon fin’ out,” said Old 
Hugh. 

We laid the bear down in the open 
ground, and quickly came around to Mac’s 
stand of the morning, and the dogs again 
took the bloody trail. In a few moments 
there was a loud outcry, a rush and crash- 
ing through the bushes and a fierce baying 
of the dogs. 

“He’s wounded mighty bad, an’ 
fightin’ !” cried Old Hugh, as we all rushed 
in. 


FLOEIDA WILDS 159 

By a sort of common consent, Mac got 
ahead and fired the finishing shot. 

‘^An’ now, Uncle Hugh, ay golly! how— 
about your’nU’ 

Miners erwaitin^ fer ther kyart,’’ he 
said. ‘‘I drapped ’im in fis tracks.” 

‘‘Well, ay golly! how did you — under- 
stand all this?” 

“Waal, when ther dogs started, I seed 
by ther tracks we had jumped er hull bunch 
uv four uv ’em. An’ then I knowed ther ol’ 
boss feller allers stayed with some others 
ef he could, an’ every time I hev started 
’im with my dogs he would skip eround an’ 
roun’ tell he c’d fin’ out whar ther hunters 
was by ther others, thet wa’n’t so cunnin’, 
er runnin’ out an’ gittin’ shot — like ther 
night thet Jackson shot his mate frum up 
thet treei — an’ then he’d try er trick o’ 
swimmin’, er sum thin’ an’ git erway. So 
jest es soon es we got ’em all er gwine this 
mawnin’ I knowed what he was up ter; an’ 
arter we all three got er shot, an’ I seed ’is 
track er gwine in ernother direction, I 
knowed he was still erlive an’ er hus’lin’. 
Then I pushed on arter him, knowin’ frum 
ther kin’ o’ marksmen I hed with me 
’twan’t no use to be botherin’ erbout them 
thet hed been shot. But, by granny ! hit was 
fun ter see how mysterfied ye fellers was 
er while ergo ! ’ ’ 


STORY AND ADVENTURE OF BILLY 
McLEOD 

CHAPTER I 

ROMANTIC TALE IN THE FOREST 

One day during a brief vacation from 
business in the city, McLeod and I went ofE 
on a lengthy tramp through Big Forest to 
a remote little lake that lay in a secluded 
spot. It was winter-time, and the wild 
ducks and geese from the North had gath- 
ered there on their annual visit. Being 
late in the afternoon when we arrived, we 
selected a sheltered place, where we de- 
posited our blankets and other light camp- 
ing outfit, preparatory to spending the 
night. Then creeping along the lake shore 
under cover, we soon shot ducks enough 
and to spare for supper and breakfast. 

If one desires to enjoy this delicious 
game bird to the highest degree, let him 
do as we did, salt, pepper, and barbecue 
it at a hunter’s fire. It seems as if the wild- 
ness of nature around you and the mingling 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


161 


of the fragrance of the woods with the 
odors of the roasting game, dripping its 
juices over the red-hot coals, whet a man’s 
appetite so that he can scarcely stop when 
he has eaten his fill. 

‘‘Ay golly! Eddie,” said my stammering 
friend, “this seems like a time — for secret 
tollin’. S’pose you tell me what — kind o’ 
love scrapes you have got into since you’ve 
been livin’ in the city.” 

“Oh, I don’t get into love scrapes, Mac. 
I am too busy to fool away my time on such 
things. Suppose you spin me a yarn about 
some of your old episodes — I know you 
must have had some in the past.” 

“Yes, I have,” he said; “an’, Eddie, I 
believe I love you better — than any livin’ 
man, an’ — I want to tell you a story.” 

‘ ‘ I like to hear you say that, old fellow ! 
There is no friend I enjoy more than you, 
and you know I am thirsting to hear that 
love-story. ’ ’ 

“Well, you may think I’m a-lyin’; but, 
ay golly! — all this is a fact.” 

He looked grave when he said this, and 
fell into a reverie. After a while I thought 
I saw him brush a tear away. I busied my- 
self in keeping up the camp-fire that I 
might not appear to be watching him, and 
after a pause, when I had settled down 
again, he began : 


162 FLORIDA WILDS 

^‘The girl was the daughter of a rich 
Mexican — ‘nobleman,’ he called hisself. 
Her mother was the daughter of a big — 
Louisiana planter. They lived in that 
State and — had a large sugar farm. I was 
overseer — to manage the niggers. 

“I couldn’t help failin’ in love with the 
girl, she was so purty; an’ she said she 
couldn’t help failin’ in love with me. Why 
she couldn’t I don’t know — for she was rich 
an’ fine, an’ I was a poor cuss; ay golly! 
it seems — out o ’ my comprehension. 

“The ol’ folks purty soon seen — what 
was up, an’ tol’ ’er to keep out o’ my way. 
But somehow me an’ her — would meet an’ 
have a chat now an’ then. Finally the 
boss, he come — to me, an’ he says, ‘Look 
a-here, Mac, I’m hirin’ you to oversee my 
niggers, an’ not my daughter. I want you 
to keep your eyes off of her. ’ 

“I said, ‘Colonel, don’t I oversee — ^your 
niggers right?’ 

“ ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘you’re — the best over- 
seer I — ever had. If it wasn’t for that — 
I’d have to discharge you. I want to hold 
on to you, as you’re so useful; but I say, 
you must — keep your eyes off my girl.’ 

“ ‘But you are askin’ what’s onreason- 
able,’ I said. 

“ ‘Why?’ says he. 


FLOEIDA WILDS 163 

‘Your gal is so darned — ^purty that, ay 
golly! I can’t help it.’ 

“ ‘But you must help it or — I’ll have to 
let you go.’ 

“ ‘S’pose, Colonel, you was seein’ an’ 
overseein’ niggers — all day, could you help 
restin’ your eyes on somethin’ purty — in 
the evenin’?’ 

“ ‘Well,’ he said, ‘you have my orders,’ 
an’ he walked away. 

“While the ol’ man was jumpin’ on me 
— this way, the ol’ lady — ^was makin’ things 
red-hot for the girl. An’ so it went on till 
the boss — said I’d have to leave; an’ I lef ’. 

“I got another place on the next — plan- 
tation, about five miles away. Lalita hap- 
pened to come drivin’ out — that way some- 
times, and I didn’t try to hide when she 
did. 

“One day she come a-horseback. I was 
on my horse, ridin’ — ’round the plantation. 
So I come out an’ joined her — of course. 
We galloped down the road, an’ I thought 
it was a — good time to begin sayin’ some- 
thin’. So after we had been a-ridin’ — a 
good while an’ havin’ a fine time, I come 
close alongside — an’ said, ‘Lalita, ’tain’t 
no use to be mum any longer; I love you, 
an’ — ay golly! you know it.’ 

“ ‘Yes, Billy,’ she said, ‘I know it, an’ 
you know I love you, too.’ 


164 FLOBIDA *WILDS 

‘I would bet my life — on that,’ I said, 
‘but the ol’ folks are ag’in us.’ 

“ ‘But they can’t keep us from-— lovin’ 
one another,’ she said. 

“ ‘No; but, ay golly! I hate to be — 
stealin’ every chat I have with you.’ 

“ ‘Yes, I hate that, too. But I am afraid 
they — ^won’t let up on us.’ 

“ ‘What makes ’em hate me so!’ 

“ ‘They don’t hate you — ^but they want 
me to marry that rich planter’s son, Tom 
Jason.’ 

“ ‘Well, maybe you will — ^but, ay golly! 
that don’t keep me — from lovin’ you now.’ 

“ ‘I don’t believe I understand you,’ she 
said. 

“ ‘Well, he is rich an’ — I’m poor. You 
wouldn’t marry a poor fellow like me.’ 

“ ‘I’d marry — the fellow I loved.’ 

“ ‘Maybe you’ll love^ — ^him some day.’ 

“ ‘What makes you — talk that way!’ 

“ ‘Women are mighty — changeable 
things. ’ 

“ ‘But don’t you believe I — can keep my 
head!’ 

‘‘ ‘Well, but, ay golly! ’tain’t your head 
— it’s your heart we’re talkin’ about! 
You’re out o’ your head — right now.’ 

“ ‘How do you mean!’ 

“ ‘Well, your head ought to — tell you 


FLORIDA WILDS 165 

better ’n to love a poor man when a — rich 
one^s a-conrtin’ you.’ 

‘‘ ‘Yes, but if my heart — goes to the poor 
man, how’s the — ^head goin’ to help it?’ 

“ ‘It ought to help it — Lalita, an’, ay 
golly! it must help it. You’ll be sorry 
some day — if it don’t.’ 

“ ‘What — do you mean?’ 

“ ‘I mean a rich, purty girl like — ^you 
ought to be married an’ — happy some time. 
But she couldn’t be content — ^with a poor 
fellow. ’ 

“ ‘Didn’t you — say you loved me?’ 

“ ‘Yes, I can’t help that if I — am poor.’ 

“ ‘Then why couldn’t you make me 
happy?’ 

“ ‘I could if I ever — ^got able to support 
you — like you’re livin’ now. But I see no 
hopes — o’ that.’ 

“ ‘But I’ll have fortune enough — for 
both of us.’ 

“ ‘Yes, but I’m proud as the — devil, if I 
am poor; an’, ay golly! I’ll never marry a 
woman — for her fortune!’ 

“ ‘But you wouldn’t — ^be marryin’ ’er 
for ’er fortune. You’d marry ’er for love 
an’ — it’d be your luck if she — had the for- 
tune. ’ 

“ ‘Not unless I had — a fortune, too; or, 
if she was poor, an’ — I poor, that’d be an 
even swap — I’d make it. But I’ll be hon- 


166 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


est — you, Lalita, I can never ask a 
ricli girl — to marry me while I am poor. 
Let me love you now, an’ — if I ever get 
able — ^before you change your min’ — I’ll 
ask you to marry me. But the war is on 
now. I’m goin’ into the army an’ — ^may git 
killed. If I don’t, I may never git rich. So 
don’t wait on me — I want you to be happy 
— I’ll take my chances. Tom Jason ain’t 
goin’ into the army — long as he can help it. 
When I am gone, an’ — Tom flies aroun’ 
you with his fine carriage an’ horses — ^you 
may forget all about the poor overseer. 
You know I tol’ you — ^women are mighty 
changeable things. But I wouldn’t — ^blame 
you.’ 

‘‘She cried an’ said — she didn’t believe 
I loved ’er, or I wouldn’t — talk to her that 
way. I did love her, though, but I couldn’t 
change the circumstances. If the war 
hadn’t come on — ^maybe I could ’ve made 
— my fortune. But I thought I was lucky 
later on. Women are fickle things — ’spe- 
cially these half-Mexicans. She wrote to 
me for a while — after I went into the army, 
but when she got to — ridin’ roun’ with 
Tom, the letters stopped. 

“After that Tom had to go into service 
an’ — the family went to Mexico. I never 
heard of ’em ag’in till after the war. 

‘ ‘ Tom disgraced hisself in the army — so 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


167 


bad I can’t foul my mouth to — talk about it 
now. He was always a stuck-up cuss, and 
wouldn’t speak to overseers, an’ — then he 
hated me because — Lalita liked me. 

went back to Louisiana a year after 
— the war was over. Colonel Figuerardo 
had come back, too. He had sold his nig- 
gers — ^before he went away to some — 
darned fool that thought — they’d never be 
free. His pay was in gold an’ — ^he specu- 
lated in Mexico an’ got home rich as ever. 
Lalita was beautiful — still, an’ not mar- 
ried.* 

‘ H met her in the lane — when I went over 
to see ’em in their village home one evenin’, 
about sundown. When she seen me, she 
threw up her hands an’ said: 

‘Oh! Billy, Billy — I’m so glad — ^you 
lived to come back!’ an’ then she clasped 
’er arms aroun’ my neck — ay golly! an’ 
kissed me ! 

“I couldn’t Speak for — a minute, an’ 
then I said : 

“ ‘Lalita — ^you never married?’ 

“ ‘No,’ she exclaimed, ‘Billy; no, I never 
— loved any man but you ! ’ 

“ ‘How about Tom?’ I asked. 

“ ‘ Oh ! Billy, forgive me ! He did dazzle 
my head — like you said, with his horses and 
carriage^ — an’ fine clothes an’ jewelry. An’, 
Billy, I’ll own up — I did think of all you 


168 FLOEIDA WILDS 

said — an’ thought maybe I couldn’t be 
happy as a poor man’s wife. An’ then you 
said you wouldn’t ask me — if you wasn’t 
rich, an’ — I promised to marry ’im. But 
then he was called — to the army, an’ after 
he was gone — I come to my senses an’ foun’ 
I didn’t love ’im. I only wrote ’im once, 
an ’ — he wrote me two letters, but I sent ’em 
back to ’im an’ — never heard any more 
from ’em.’ 

‘‘An’ then she remembered that — like a 
woman, she was lettin’ her heart git away 
with her head ag’in — an’ she colored up, 
an’ said: 

“ ‘But, Billy, I’ve done all the talkin’ — 
an’ you haven’t tol’ me anything.’ 

“I guessed she was afraid — she’d gone 
too fur in ’spressin’ her feelin’s without 
bearin’ mine. 

“ So I spoke up quick an’ said : 

“ ‘An’, Lalita, I’ve loved you every min- 
ute — since I left you that — evenin’ I made 
you cry. An’ I beg your pardon — for 
makin’ you cry. I only meant to be honest 
— with you, but I was wrong, ay golly ! in — 
thinkin’ you so fickle. Forgive me for that.’ 

“ ‘I am afraid Tom come very — near 
makin’ your words seem true — about that,’ 
she said; ‘but I can see now, as you said 
then — I was out o’ my head !’ 

“ ‘Yes,’ I answered, ‘ay golly! but your 


FLOEIDA WILDS 169 

heart was in — the right place when your 
head come roun’ ag’in!’ 

‘^An’ then she smiled so sweetly — ay 
golly! I took ’er in my arms an’ kissed ’er. 

“ ‘Come to the house, Billy,’ she said, 
when I turned ’er loose ag’in. 

“ ‘^rhat will the ol’ folks say now?’ I 
asked ’er. 

“ ‘Well, they’ve been sayin’ a long time 
that I’m a fool,’ she answered, laughing. 
‘An’ if you’d seen some o’ them rich Mexi- 
cans — that wanted me to marry ’em, maybe 
you’d a-thought so, tool’ 

“ ‘No,’ I said, ‘I think you’re the mos’ 
sensible — girl I ever seen! I would say, 
though, that — ^you’re unlucky in lovin’ sich 
a poor fellow; hut, ay golly! a man that 
can’t git able to marry sich a girl — ought 
to he shot!’ 

“ ‘Have you got the same fool notions 
yet,’ she said, ‘about askin’ a rich girl to 
marry you?’ 

“ ‘Can’t help it,’ I said, ‘but I’m goin’ 
to work now to make — my fortune or bust ! ’ 

“She laughed, an’ patted me on the back 
— an’ said: 

“ ‘You are the most of a man — I ever 
saw, an’ I know you’ll succeed. But tell 
me why you wouldn’t marry a rich girl — 
while you’re poor?’ 

“ ‘Because,’ I said, ‘she could put her 


170 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


hand on my arm and say, “Look a-here! 
stop, man, ay golly I that^s my money 
you^re spendinM’^ ’ 

“She laughed ag^in, an’ we started to the 
house, when I stopped before we got to the 
gate an’ tol’ ’er about Tom’s disgrace. ‘I 
ain’t tellin’ you this,’ I said, ‘to prejudice 
— ^you ag’in ’im. I only want you to be 
prepared for — what might happen.’ 

“ ‘You know you have no cause,’ she 
said, ‘to want to prejudice — me against 
him, but after what you’ve tol’ me, I 
couldn’t — ^bear ’im in my sight. I want to 
know, though — what you tliink ’ll happen?’ 

“ ‘Well,’ I said, ‘I’ve made up my mind 
to kill ’im — ay golly! on sight, if he don’t 
kill me fust ! ’ 

“ ‘Oh, no!’ she exclaimed, ‘Billy, don’t 
do that ’cept in self-defense. You know I 

couldn’t marry a ’ An’ she covered ’er 

face with her ban’s ! 

“ ‘A murderer, you mean,’ I said. 

“ ‘Yes,’ she answered; ‘you know I 
couldn’t be happy — that way; an’ it 
wouldn’t be right — now the war is over,’ 
she added; ‘an’ you mustn’t do it!’ 

“ ‘But,’ I said, ‘I don’t like, ay golly! — 
to breathe air in the same world with sich 
a cuss. He ought to be killed — to purify 
the atmosphere ! ’ 

“ ‘Oh, Billy,’ she said, ‘you mustn’t do 


FLORIDA WILDS 


171 


it I I can’t bear — to think of your stainin’ 
your honest ban’s — in any man’s blood 
now, after the war^ — an’ ’specially in such 
blood as that!’ 

‘‘ ‘Well, ay golly!’ I said, ‘I own up it 
would be — a disgrace to stain a man’s 
ban’s in — sich nasty blood as his’n, but — 
that proves there ain’t room on the earth 
for sich a fellow ! ’ 

“She was a-cryin’, an’ takin’ my ban’s 
in hers she kissed ’em an’ said: 

“ ‘Billy, promise me right now — ^before 
we go another step — ^you won’t kill ’im 
’cept in self-defense!’ 

“ ‘For your sake, Lalita, I promise — I 
mean, because you ask it. I pledge my 
word of honor — I’ll respect your wishes, as 
long as I can.’ 

“We went to the house, then, an’ — the 
Colonel an’ Mrs. Figuerado met me very 
friendly. 

“They asked about the war, an’ my ex- 
perience. I tol’ ’em everything ’cept about 
Tom. They didn’t mention his name — an’ 
I did not. I spent a very pleasant evenin’, 
an’ — ay golly! took supper with ’em; an’ 
then I was invited to call as much as I 
liked, an’ — I liked purty of’en! 

“One day the ol’ Colonel took me — to 
one side an’ said: 

“ ‘Mac, things has changed. I have no 


172 FLORIDA WILDS 

more niggers for you — to oversee; an’ I 
have decided to — turn my big farms into 
pastures an’ — go to stock raisin’. Now, 
Lalita thinks there ain’t another man to — 
please her as well as you; an’ I think I’ll 
make you a proposition: If you want to 
stay and give — all your time to stock 
raisin ’ with — ^me I ’ll give you half the pro- 
ceeds. ’ 

’Tain’t no use to say I had done — ac- 
cepted that proposition — ay golly! before 
he was done sayin’ it. 

^‘We worked at it one year to — git a 
start, an’ done so well the — Colonel sent 
me with a lot of fine stock — over into 
Texas, where we^ — opened a big ranch. In 
six months I come home to see Lalita. We 
took a long walk on a purty old street that 
led into the country. 

‘ ‘ ‘ I have come to tell you, ’ I said, ‘ that — 
I’m in a fair way — ay golly! to git rich at 
last, an’ will soon — ^be able to ask you to 
marry me — s ’posin’ you’re still lovin’ me.’ 

‘‘She laughed an’ clasped ’er ban’s — 
across my arm as we walked along, an’ 
lookin’ up into my face' — still smilin’, she 
said: 

“ ‘Billy, you dear ol’ fellow — ^you know 
I love you, an’ — always will jus’ the same 
as all these years. An’ I’m ready to go 
with you — ^when you want me. Now, you 


FLORIDA WILDS 173 

tell me again if you love me— like you 
used to.’ 

‘Yes,’ I said, ay golly! — ‘you know I 
love you — ^more’n my stammerin’ tongue 
can tell ! ’ 

“ ‘I know it, Billy; I know it, but I like 
to hear you say it over an’ over, an’ your 
little stammer — seems to make it soun’ all 
the sweeter. An’ now, when are you goin’ 
to come for me ? ’ 

“ ‘Ay golly!’ I said, ‘not till I git a big 
house an’ — groun’s as fine as these I take 
you from. That’ll be by this time — next 
year, I reck’n.’ 

“She smiled an’ put her arms — sich sof ’, 
purty arms! — roun’ my neck when I bent 
down, an’ — kissed me an’ said: 

“ ‘I’m proud of you, my Billy — ^but 
you’re the deares’ ol’ goose in the world!’ 

“But, Eddie, I want to go to sleep, 
thinkin’ o’ that — I’ll tell you the last line 
in my story to-morrow.” 


CHAPTER II 

A DOUBLE SURPKISE AND A THRILLING SEQUEL 

The next morning, after an early break- 
fast, we were out in a little boat which Mac 


174 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


owned and kept hidden in the bushes when 
not in use. We had fine sport for several 
hours and loaded our boat with as much 
game as we cared to carry home. 

Then we paddled over to an Indian 
mound that stood on one side, and com- 
menced digging with a trowel we had 
brought for some little relics I might take 
back with me to the city. 

We had not labored long when we dis- 
covered another boat, with two men, com- 
ing around a point that jutted out into the 
lake half a mile away from us. We had 
heard shooting over that way and sup- 
posed a party of tourists had come through 
from Hunter’s Eesort — a boarding-house 
kept for sportsmen in the winter on the 
other side of Big Forest. 

The Indian mound was not infrequently 
visited by these people in search of curi- 
osities, and the other boat soon landed 
alongside of ours. The mound stood some 
ten or fifteen feet above the surface and 
near the edge of the water, which at this 
place was very deep. 

Before the newcomers stepped ashore, 
McLeod said to me, in an undertone, which 
seemed full of unusual feeling: “Ay golly I 
I believe I know that — ^bully-lookin’ fellow 
at the stern ! ’ ’ 

In a few moments they reached the spot 


FLOEIDA WILDS 175 

where we were digging in the bed of shell 
and earth. 

^^Good morning, gentlemen!’^ they said, 
in polished tones that betokened high 
breeding. 

W^e responded, but I noticed that Mc- 
Leod and one of the men fastened their 
eyes on each other with unspoken meaning. 
Mac had risen to his feet, and his swarthy 
face was flushed, while his eyes gleamed. 
He reached to a bush against which he had 
leaned his gun, and quickly laying hold of 
the weapon brought it to a position across 
his breast, with his right hand grasping it 
near the lock. 

The other, whose face betrayed intense 
surprise and hatred, was quick to bring his 
gun into a similar position. 

He was the first to speak. 

^Ht seems to me we know each other,’’ he 
remarked, in the same cultured tone and 
with somethins: of a sneer, which there was 
no effort to conceal. 

^^No use mincin’ matters,” said Mac, 
bluntly ; ^ ^you ’re Tom J ason an ’ — ay golly ! 
I’m— Billy McLeod!” 

^‘Ah! thank you for letting our respec- 
tive friends know our names. Now, gentle- 
men, that you may better understand this 
military greeting, I may remark that Mr. 
McLeod was once a scout in the Confeder- 


176 


FLORIDA WILDS 


ate service, and I was a lieutenant in an 
adjoining corps. We had a little unpleas- 
antness, which to-day I might have been 
willing to settle amicably but for his war- 
like movement, which you have just no- 
ticed. I am still disposed to keep the peace, 
and am willing to drop the matter and with- 
draw with my friend from this company, if 
that will content the man. ’ ’ 

He could not conceal his bitterness, and 
while he would have liked to get away in 
‘ ‘ peace, he looked as if he would relish 
an opportunity to take McLeod’s life. 

Don’t be in such a devil of a hurry — 
to be off,” said Mac. ^‘Ay golly! you said 
the next time — ^me an’ you met, one or 
t’other would have to die. Now, you ain’t 
willin’ to fight fair — ^but you’d kill me in 
the dark — if you could. We ’ll never have a 
better time — than right now to settle ol’ 
scores. You have your frien’ an’ I have 
mine. Let ’em step off the distance, give 
the word — an’, ay golly! we’ll shoot it 
out ! ’ ’ 

Matters were getting desperate ! Mac’s 
face was grim with determination, mingled 
with scorn. Jason paled a little but stood 
his ground with at least a show of courage, 
though I thought I caught an appeal to me 
for interference as he glanced at me and 
replied : 


FLOEIDA WILDS 177 

^ Wery well, then, upon your head be the 
blood of this occasion.’^ 

I exchanged a glance with the ‘ ‘ friend. ’ ^ 
He evidently was as much surprised and 
as unprepared as I to be a party to the 
deadly duel about to take place. We both 
spoke at once. 

‘‘Can^t we prevail on you gentlemen to 
come to a friendly adjustment 

Jason looked a little relieved, and, ^H’m 
willing to leave it in your hands, friends,’^ 
he said, in a most elegant and winning 
manner. 

‘ ^ But, ^ ’ he continued, his hate getting the 
better of his judgment, ‘‘while I am a born 
gentleman, you must perceive that I have 
the misfortune to be dealing with a des- 
perado. ’ ’ 

Mac started to explode, but I waved my 
hand to him and begged him to let me 
speak, both of them having brought their 
guns to a “make ready’’ at Jason’s last 
words. 

“Now, gentlemen,” please bring your 
guns to ‘order arms.’ ” They obeyed. 
Turning to Jason, I then continued: “In 
order to show myself willing to be fair in 
this matter, I shall ask you to state from 
your standpoint the cause of this state of 
feeling between you and my friend.” 


178 


FLORIDA WILDS 


He seemed to quail a little at first, but 
rallied and said: 

was a Union man, though Southern 
born. It became necessary for all men of 
my age to enter the Confederate service, 
and I did so, though unwillingly. My in- 
tended father-in-law was a Mexican, and 
with his wife and daughter had left the 
Southern States and gone to Mexico. After 
I had been in the army some time I be- 
came more and more dissatisfied with my 
position ; and as I could not obtain an hon- 
orable discharge on such grounds, I allowed 
my feelings to overcome my discretion, per- 
haps, and took the risk (as well as the re- 
proach) of severing my connection with the 
army clandestinely, determined to make my 
way to Mexico — and join my friends ” 

‘‘Say you deserted — like a d d 

sneak ! ’ ’ interrupted Mac. 

“To make the sequel short,’’ he said, 
wincing under Mac’s words of scorn, “I 
may add that I was intercepted by this 
scout, and though he did release me on cer- 
tain personal grounds, he was very insult- 
ing and outrageous in denouncing me; and 
after he had put me across a river in a skiff 
and returned to the other side, I allowed 
myself to call back to him that at our next 
meeting one or the other should die. This 
is that meeting.” 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


179 


I felt a little sympathy for the fellow, 
notwithstanding the dishonor of his posi- 
tion, and thought now that the war had 
been over for several years, Mac might 
afford to forgive him. 

But I said to that individual, whose face 
was glowing with still greater vehemence 
and derision: 

‘^Now, Mac, let us have your side of the 
story. ’ ’ 

‘^W^ell, ay golly!’’ he began, his form 
shaking with wrath, ‘^he did not tell you 
all. To start on. I’ll say, if he’d been a 
Yankee — I could ’ve excused him for sym- 
pathizin’ with that side an’ — wantin’ to 
quit. But. ay golly! I can’t stomach— -a 
darned scalawag that deserts his own flag ! 
But I released ’im on account of — the Mexi- 
can ’s daughter. I knew ’er, and she thought 
he was the gentleman — ^he says he is. In 
spite of her, though, I — would ’ve turned 
’im over to be shot— if he hadn’t give me 
his parole. I made ’im swear by all in 
heaven an’ on earth — ^he’d go to Mexico 
an’ not take up arms ag’in us. But, ay 
golly! the stinkin’ skunk — ^went straight to 
the Yankees an’ fought ag’in us — to the 
end of the war! He thinks I don’t know 
that, but — ay golly! I can prove it so he 
won’t deny it. Me an’ my comrade, Mike 
Dawkins, on one — of our scoutin’ trips — 


180 FLORIDA WILDS 

got inside the Yankee lines, an’ I was cap- 
tured. This fellow was in the command — 
that got me. He was disguised with green 
specs — an’ clean-shaved face — to keep us 
rebs from knowin’ ’im ag’in. But I recog- 
nized ’im by that soft voice an’ mean look; 
an’ — I seen he knowed me, too — an’ I 
knowed he had it in for me if he could. 

^‘But Mike, when he foun’ they had me 
— ^he crawled up close to the guards that 
night an’ — eavesdropped ’em. This un- 
grateful hyena was makin’ a plot with the 
corporal — in command, to let me escape 
next day, on the way to headquarters, an’ 
he’d be hid in the bushes close by an’ kill 
me — as I run toward our lines. 

‘^We knew the place well, an’ — formin’ 
his plans, Mike fooled roun’ the guards 
ag’in, an’ let ’em capture him, too. The 
next day when we started to — ^headquart- 
ers, as Mike ’spected, they tied ’im an’ me 
—together by the wrists, an’ lef’ the cord 
loose enough for me an’ him to work our 
ban’s out, an’ in doin’ that Mike gave my 
han’ a squeeze an’ give me a look — that I 
knowed meant I was to follow him. So 
when we come to the place by a creek — 
where they had planned for us to break 
away — the guards both laid down, pretend- 
in’ to drink water. We broke, as they 
’spected, but up the creek instid of down. 


FLOEIDA .WILDS 


181 


where this devil an’ another fellow was in 
ambush to kill us. We knew every hog 
trail in — that country an’ made our escape. 

‘‘I was sorry I didn’t let ’em set this fel- 
low up for a target — ^when I caught ’im. I 
would ’ve asked for a single shot at ’im, 
but I’d hated to waste a good cartridge on 
sich a varmint — a piece of rope ’d ’a’ been 
better I 

‘‘In the first place, he deserted — ^which is 
a crime a true man — can’t forgive; in the 
second place, he broke his parole and took 
up arms — ag’inst his own country, which is 
— two blacker crimes in one; in the third 
place, he planned to murder in cold blood 
— a private soldier who had risked — ^his 
own life in takin’ — the parole of a deserter 
without orders. Ay golly ! yes, he ought to 
’ve been hung an’ — the rope burnt after- 
wards ! ’ ’ 

Jason was very white during this recital 
and denunciation — ^he evidently did not 
Imow that Mac was aware of all his perfidy. 

“An’ now,” continued Mac, in the bit- 
terest scorn, “I want to repeat — ^what he 
said — was insultin’ an’ outrageous at the 
partin’ — ^when I let ’im loose. I said, ‘I 
hate all deserters an’ their frien’s an’ sym- 
pathizers, an’ — I wish they was all dead an’ 
damned, an’ in hell, an’ — the door locked 
— an’ the key lost !’ An’,” he added, look- 


182 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


ing at Jason with the supremest contempt 
and disgust, “I despise ^em now worse ^n 
I did then; an’, ay golly! I love myself for 
hatin’ ’em so!” 

Jason was livid and McLeod’s lip fairly 
quivered with rage. I could see no way out 
of the matter without a fight, and yet I 
could not bear to think of the double trag- 
edy that would be almost sure to follow. 
Jason’s friend seemed to interpret the ex- 
pression on my face, and probably being 
aware of the pugilistic skill of the man he 
was supporting, shouted: 

‘^Let them throw down their guns and 
fight it out with their fists ! ’ ’ 

‘^Good!” I exclaimed, catching at the 
idea quickly as spoken. 

‘‘Your friends,” I said, addressing them 
both, “will assume the right to direct a 
settlement of this matter and choose the 
mode. We will disarm each of you, and 
you shall fight with your fists to a finish.” 

“Ay golly! I’m willin’,” said Mac. 
“And, gentlemen,” rejoined Jason, in 
his wonted lofty and elegant manner, “I 
am more than willing. Nothing can afford 
me greater pleasure than smashing to a 
jelly the face of this vile blackguard. 
Though I dislike “ soil my hands with him, 
it will be the realization of a ‘hope long de- 
ferred.’ ” 


FLORIDA WILDS 


183 


In the meantime we disarmed them, I tak- 
ing Jason’s gun and removing all other 
weapons, and Fairbanks, the friend, deal- 
ing with McLeod in the same manner to 
insure fair play. 

I confess I felt a little apprehensive, the 
confident manner of Jason and his friend 
causing me to guess that the champion on 
that side was a skilled pugilist, and I feared 
Mac might find him more than a match for 
even the sledge-hammer blows which his 
own honest, powerful arms could strike. 
But arrangements were quickly completed. 
We made them take off their jackets and 
face each other at a distance of five feet 
apart, the blows to begin at the signal. 

Stepping back several paces, Fairbanks 
on one side and I on the other, I counted 
slowly, ^‘One — two — three!” and the fight 
was on. Jason seemed to think he had an 
easy task and made at McLeod with that 
confidence the practiced boxer might as- 
sume toward an amateur. McLeod noted 
the superior air and seemed to give way be- 
fore it, as if conscious of his inferiority. 
I felt the more anxious for my friend, 
though he, so far, cleverly defended himself 
from harm. Jason’s confidence increased, 
and his blows fell thick and fast, though he 
had not struck the face yet he was so anx- 
ious to disfigure. Just as he made a des- 


184 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


perate punch at Mac’s cheek, the latter 
dodged and dealt Jason his first heavy 
blow, which unexpectedly landed over the 
right eye, and sent him sprawling to the 
earth. Recovering his feet and coming 
back at Mac, frothing with fury, the latter 
stepped nimbly aside and hit him another 
of those awful strokes, this time on the 
temple, and again Jason bit the dust. Once 
more coming to his feet and panting with 
fatigue and rage, he seemed to realize that 
his antagonist was no novice after all, and 
engaged him again with more deliberation 
and seemed to call to his aid a great de- 
gree of reserve force and skill. For five 
minutes more the combatants went round 
and round, neither seeming to gain an ad- 
vantage. 

Finally, Mac made a feint with his left at 
Jason’s stomach, which the latter pro- 
tected, when, like a thunderbolt, Mac’s 
right fist struck him in the forehead, and 
as he was on the brink of the mound lie 
went headlong and with a terrific plunge 
into the water below! 

^‘He can’t swim!” cried Fairbanks. 

Mac’s shoes were slipped otf in an in- 
stant, and he leaped headforemost into the 
water after his foe. 

Don’t let the fellow drown him!” 
shouted Fairbanks to me. 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


185 


‘‘How can I help I asked. 

Just then Jason came to the surface and 
Mac, who was a vigorous and expert swim- 
mer, rose beside him, caught him by the 
shirt at the back and struck out for the 
shallower water at the landing. As soon 
as he reached water only waist deep, he, 
with both hands, seized Jason, who was 
almost half drowned, and swinging the 
wriggling form by his powerful arms over 
his head, he flung him on shore, only six 
feet distant from where he stood. 

“For her sake — once aghn!’’ he cried, 
‘ ‘ not for youruy you infernal cuss 1 ’ ’ Then 
coming ashore he muttered at the coughing, 
sneezing wretch as he passed him: 

“That lake’s too cool for a — darned de- 
serter — and sneak — ay golly! the Lawd’s 
got a hotter place ’n that for you!” 

Jason gathered himself up, by the help 
of his friend, and slunk away without an- 
other word. 

We returned to our camp and Mac dried 
off by the fire. I regarded him in admira- 
tion as he bared his powerful muscles. 

“I didn’t fool away my time,” he said, 
“when I belonged to the New Orleans Ath- 
letic Club ; but that’s twice I’ve spared that 
cuss his life — the third ’ll be the last call 
— hell will git a new recruit, ay golly!” 

The stern expression on his countenance 


186 


FLORIDA WILDS 


gradually relaxed, and after a while there 
was a sad and tender look in his eyes as I 
heard him murmur, in tremulous tones 
scarcely audible: 

^‘Lalita, 0, Lalita! my darlinM — ^would 
God I had never seen that man aghn!^’ 

Then, with a voice shaking with emotion, 
he said: 

‘ ^ Eddie, I promised to give you — the end 
of my story to-day. We were married, ac- 
cordin’ — to my plan, the next year, an’ 
were — ^very happy in our fine new home in 
Texas. But,” he continued, while sup- 
pressed sobs shook his noble form, ‘‘two 
years later — ^while on a visit to New Or- 
leans, she took yellow fever an’ died!” 

Another pause and the sad voice went 
on: 

“And that is why, my friend — I am in 
these wild woods to-day. Oh! if that fel- 
low had not come to — ^wake up all the bit- 
ter memories ag’in!” 

Becoming calmer, he wiped his eyes and 
resumed : 

“The last words she said to me were, 
‘Billy, dear Billy, don’t stain your ban’s in 
Tom Jason’s blood.’ I didn’t promise her, 
but, ay golly! that’s what saved ’im from 
drownin’ in that lake to-day!” 


THE CRACKER 

Those who have not lived among these 
people, or become familiar with them, do 
not identify the class, but confuse them 
with others from whom they are entirely 
distinct. 

Very much has been written in late years 
about ‘^the Cracker^’ — the origin of the 
name, and of the class of people to whom 
the term properly applies. The writers 
have seemed to be persons totally unfa- 
miliar with their subject, and have based 
what they stated as facts upon what they 
had heard from others, who knew as little 
about it as they. 

The term ‘‘cracker,’^ as applied to a per- 
son, is not modern and did not originate in 
Georgia or Florida, as is popularly sup- 
posed, so the cracking of cow-whips by 
cattle drivers in our lower States could not 
have given rise to the appellation, as has 
been often affirmed. 

Shakespeare evidently refers to this 
class of people when he exclaims : 

187 


188 FLOEIDA WILDS 

‘‘What cracker is this same that deafs our 
ears 

With this abundance of superfluous 
breath r’ 

This fact is borne out by Webster and 
other authorities who define the individual 
as “noisy, boasting, swaggering/’ 

This description, while good enough as 
far as it goes, is not complete. 

Webster further says, “One of a poor 
class of whites of the Southern States, as 
a Georgia cracker.” 

That is our man in the primitive state in 
which we know him. The most of the older 
set, if in other Southern States, will tell 
you that they “cum frum ’way back yan’er 
in Georgy.” Why they claim the Empire 
State of the South as their original home 
this writer is not prepared to settle. But 
correctly speaking, the typical Cracker of 
the South is “of a poor class of whites,” 
uneducated, preferring ignorance to learn- 
ing, shy, awkward, bashful — when away 
from his kind — avoiding cultured people, 
keeping away from towns except “ter 
trade,” and hurrying back to the country 
as soon as he has purchased his “ter- 
backer” and “ can-fee, ” the two chief arti- 
cles he wants from the store. For cloth- 
ing, he often buys the coarsest white goods 


FLOEIDA WILDS 189 

and dyes it with different barks of trees — 
‘ ‘ set with cop ’ras ’ ’ — to suit the fancy. 

Possibly the man of Shakespeare’s day 
was his ancestor ; for he must have had an 
ancestor, and one peculiar and different, as 
he is peculiar and different from other 
classes of our race. 

Notwithstanding his disposition to skulk 
away from the presence of intelligence, he 
is, when he gets ‘‘erquainted” with you, 
‘‘abounding in superfluous breath,” “noisy 
and boasting.” He is uncompromisingly 
lazy, and of most thriftless habits. He 
hunts, fishes, and pretends to some spas- 
modic efforts at work, but shirks all the 
labor he can, leaving that to his “ ’oman,” 
as he calls his wife, while he talks loudly, 
smokes his pipe, “chaws terbacker,” and 
drinks “cau-fee.” 

He frequently owns an ox, or one little 
pony, which he pets, and attends to with 
the utmost care. If he and his “ ’oman” 
travel together, he rides in the ox-cart, or 
on the pony’s back, and she walks ! That is 
not all — if any burden must accompany 
them and the pony, he still rides, and she 
carries the load. For example, I remem- 
ber meeting one riding his pony, with his 
ever-present long rifle lying across his lap, 
while the woman walked behind carrying a 
one-year-old child on one hip and a half- 


190 FLOEIDA WILDS 

bushel sack of potatoes on the opposite 
shoulder. 

“Hello, Si!’’ I exclaimed, “why don’t 
you take the child and potatoes on your 
horse?” 

“Aw!” he drawled, “t ’ain’t convenunt; 
an’ ther ol’ ’oman — she don’t min’ hit.” 

“No, sir,” added that poor, half-starved, 
lantern-jawed creature, with a similar, 
though weary drawl, “no, sir, I don’t min’ 
hit; hit’s unly erbout two mile furder, ony- 
way.” 

She had become so accustomed to bear- 
ing the burden of their life that she seemed 
to accept it as her rightful lot, without a 
thought of remonstrance against the sel- 
fishness of her partner. 

Such sights are not uncommon, nor is it 
unusual to come upon their settlement and 
find the woman plowing the ox or the pony 
in their two or three-acre clearing, and the 
man away, hunting or fishing. If the latter 
is met by any one else while on these expe- 
ditions he always claims he is “er hawg- 
huntin’ ” and is in a hurry to get back to 
his work. 

Like the Indian, the Cracker moves 
ahead of civilization. He despises rail- 
roads and all public improvements, and 
hurries oif to other wild woods, where he 
settles again on Government lands. But 


FLOEIDA .WILDS 191 

he holds himself in readiness to move far- 
ther on at the approach of his more aspir- 
ing fellow-man. 

His vernacular is strictly his own. It 
combines a twang with a drawl and a cer- 
tain expression altogether peculiar to him- 
self, which is unmistakable and can never 
be forgotten, though it is difficult to de- 
scribe on paper. 

The personal appearance of one after a 
rain, with a characteristic manner and re- 
mark, is thus graphically described by Sid- 
ney Lanier: 

‘^He is a slim native, and there is not bone 
enough in his whole body to make the left 
leg of a good English coal-heaver; more- 
over, he does not seem to have the least 
idea that a man needs grooming. He is 
disheveled and wry-trussed to the last de- 
gree; his poor weasel jaws nearly touch 
their inner sides as they suck at the acrid 
ashes of his dreadful pipe ; and there is no 
single filament of his hair or beard that 
does not look sourly and at wild angles 
upon its neighbor filament. His eyes are 
viscidly unquiet ; his nose is merely weari- 
ness come to a point; the corners of his 
mouth are pendulous with that sort of suf- 
fering which does not involve any sort of 
heroism, such as being out of tobacco, wait- 
ing for the cornbread to be cooked, and the 


192 


FLORIDA WILDS 


like ; his — but, poor devil ! I withdraw these 
remarks. He has a right to look dis- 
heveled, or any other way he likes. For, 
listen: ‘Waal, sir,’ he says, with a diluent 
smile, as he wearily leans his arm against 
the lower deck where I am sitting, ‘ef we 
didn’ hev ther sentermentallest rain right 
thar last night. I’ll be dad-busted!’ He 
had been in it all night.” 

Lanier, perhaps unwittingly, gives a 
clear and nearly perfect description of the 
tj^ical Cracker, but one would need to see 
the droll creature and hear the peculiar 
twang and drawl to fully appreciate the 
picture. 

And so with this incident in which the 
Cracker woman appears : 

She was resting on our porch one day, 
and thought she discovered a resemblance 
to a Cracker acquaintance of hers in one of 
our young hunting dogs. Suddenly she ex- 
claimed : 

“Jes’ look er yander et thet yander 
purp! He licked his tongue outen his 
mouth thar jes’ now, an’ he looked pine- 
blank lik’ Mose Jiner!” 

From the foregoing representations nat- 
urally follows the explosion of another 
popular theory, that every one born in 
Georgia or Florida is a “Cracker.” 

It is not intended by anything that has 


FLOEIDA WILDS 193 

been written, however, to put the Cracker 
in contempt. With all his indolence and pe- 
culiarities he is very kind and generous. 
One might not think so by the way he treats 
his ’oman.’^ But that is simply habit, 
which may have been handed down from 
the ages, and, as already intimated, is ac- 
cepted by the woman as her part in life's 
drama. 

There can scarcely be any connection, 
even remote, between the two, but the dis- 
position to impose upon the woman re- 
minds one of the same queer custom pre- 
vailing among some of the Oriental nations. 

But the Cracker is hospitable and will 
take any degree of trouble to accommodate 
a neighbor or entertain a stranger. If a 
benighted traveler comes to his cabin he is 
cordially taken in and given the best of all 
there is to be had. No matter how late the 
hour of his arrival, he is not put supper- 
less to bed, even if the woman has to get 
up and cook the meal. If there is only one 
chair, the stranger has that; if only one 
bed, the guest is placed in that, and the 
family take the floor. 

These pleasant characteristics are to be 
found in all grades of Crackers — for they 
have grades, as well as other people. The 
original article, so to speak, in the rawest 
state, is what has been described. This 


194 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


grade is typical, and constitutes the great 
majority. But there are others more in- 
telligent and more thrifty, having by some 
circumstance been compelled to tolerate 
the presence of civilization around them, 
and to come into frequent contact with the 
superior classes. Such influences have in- 
spired them and elevated them above their 
common level. 

In this connection, be it said, that in spite 
of the ignorance and undeveloped minds of 
these people, from time immemorial, per- 
haps, they have always exhibited a vein of 
strong common sense^ — a native intellect, 
that would have reflected credit on others 
of better training and opportunities. 

It is interesting to note how conscious 
they themselves are of this mental endow- 
ment — they call it ‘‘hard horse-sense,’’ or 
more commonly “mother- wit” — and how 
they contemptuously contrast it with its 
conspicuous absence in some educated 
people. 

Strangers coming in contact with this 
class in their thriftlessness as described, 
and seeing them living in their one-room 
pole huts, where the whole family cook, eat 
and sleep, would not think they were cap- 
able of a development much above a herd 
of swine. 

Perhaps there are no statistics to show 


FLORIDA WILDS 195 

what proportion of them ever rise to any 
prominence; but the writer is reminded 
that the Cracker is at least born with as 
favorable environments as was his distin- 
guished cousin, Abraham Lincoln. If the 
one-room log cabin, with its chimney of 
mud and sticks, so often pictured in our 
magazines as the birthplace of this great 
man, is a correct representation, then he 
was born in a typical Cracker hut, or its 
fac-simile. 

Indeed, had this humble abode stood in 
the extreme South its unpretentious in- 
mates would certainly have been denomi- 
nated ‘‘Crackers.^’ And who shall say they 
were not? 

It could be no discredit to this illustrious 
American to have been a Cracker. Such a 
fact would demonstrate that this magnifi- 
cent country — ^unparalleled in its power for 
the making of men — had produced a man 
superior to any Eastern monarch from its 
veritable backwoods, and from its most ob- 
scure and unpretending class. 

It would be instructive to discover the 
history of this peculiar people and the ori- 
gin of the name by which they are known ; 
but it is an error to suppose they are con- 
fined exclusively to the South in this coun- 
try. Unmistakable representatives of the 
stock are found among the backwoodsmen 


196 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


of the New England and Western States. 
One who has been reared in close touch 
with the genuine class of the South recog- 
nizes instantly the same vernacular, the 
characteristic twang and drawl in many of 
the uneducated country people who emi- 
grate to the South from the West and 
‘‘Down East,^’ though they are usually 
more thrifty than the Southern Crackers. 

I have been careful and elaborate, per- 
haps, in describing these people in the 
interest of truth — that confusion or uncer- 
tainty may be removed as to their classi- 
fication or identity. 


A CRACKER COURTSHIP 


OE 

BILLY McLEOD THE MATCH-MAKER 


CHAPTER I 

BUD AND MANDY 

Bud, who was a young man, son of Old 
Hugh, with a little more aspiration than 
might have been expected, had ‘‘settled’^ 
a place on Short Branch,’^ about five 
miles from the home of his parents. He 
had built a one-room log cabin with the 
usual mud and stick chimney, cleared a few 
acres of land and fenced it. He still lived 
with his ^^paw” and ^‘maw,” but was 
planting and cultivating his own ground at 
convenient times. 

One day Billy McLeod overtook Bud as 
he was coming home. 

‘ ‘ Hello, Bud ! ’ ’ said Mac. ‘ ^ Where have 
you — ^beenT’ 

‘^Been down on m’ place.’’ 

‘^What are you going to do — with that 
place?” 

‘‘Gwine ter git it ready fer sum purty 
gal ter live on.” 


197 


198 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


‘‘Well, why don’t you — git a wife?” 

“Hain’t foun’ no gal ter suit me yit.” 

‘ ‘ What kind of a gal — do you want ? ’ ’ 

“Good-lookin’ an’ kin work while I’m er 
hawg huntin’ an’ sich like.” 

“How about Mandy Gillson — old Simp- 
son’s niece?” 

“Hain’t seed her yit, ’ceptin’ one time et 
meetin’.” 

“I know she has lately — come, but she’s 
purty good-lookin’, ain’t she?” 

‘ ‘ She ’s ther likeliest gal I ever seed, but, 
karfoun’ my pictur! I’m af eared she 
wouldn’t look et the likes uv me.” 

“Well, I admit you are a right — ^ugly 
cuss to look at — ^myself, but some girls 
don’t stand — on looks. One of ’em used 
to — like me, an’ I ain’t much better lookin’ 
than you. You’ve got a house and a farm 
and — it ain’t every man can offer — that 
much to a girl.” 

Bud was getting interested and Mac con- 
tinued : 

“I have seen her drive old Simpson’s 
cows and — ^workin’ in his field. I think 
she’s a purty smart gal.” 

They parted at the cross-roads. Bud say- 
ing he would “like pow’ful well to git er- 
quainted with ’er,” and Mac promising to 
introduce him on next meeting day. 

“Here I am a-match-ma&n’,” solilo- 


FLOEIDA WILDS 199 

quized that individual, as he sauntered 
^ong on his way, and then added: ^‘Better 
be a-makin’ it for him — than for myself, 
for a Cracker gal — ^wouldn’t suit me no- 
how. ^ ^ 

The next day as Bud, riding his ‘‘paw’s” 
pony, emerged from the swamp that lay 
along a little stream, and came out into the 
open woods, he discovered a woman riding 
on the same trail a hundred yards ahead of 
him. 

“Thet mus’ be Mandy Gillson right 
now,” he said to himself, and urging his 
horse a little, thought he would overtake 
her and get acquainted. When about within 
fifty yards she heard his approach and 
threw a glance behind her at the same mo- 
ment that her pony turned his head and 
looked back. 

Bud’s horse by this time had reached a 
gallop, and the other, seeming to take 
fright, dashed down the path at the top of 
his speed. 

This was an unexpected turn of affairs, 
and Bud, seeing the woman had lost con- 
trol and that her horse was running away, 
thought he had better pursue on his faster 
pony and stop hers before any damage re- 
sulted. The race continued for ten min- 
utes, Bud ’s horse gaining. One wild glance 
was at this moment shot back by the flying 


200 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


girl, her long hair streaming behind her 
as she sped on the wings of the wind. 

‘‘Ill soon stop ye!’’ shouted Bud, who 
saw in that look an appeal to him to save 
her life if he could. But by this time the 
leading horse had reached the bank of Deep 
Creek, a dark stream thirty yards wide and 
with a high bluff on their side. In another 
instant the pony whirled abruptly from the 
trail to the top of the bluff and plunged 
with his rider headlong into the stream 
below ! 

“Karfoun’ my pictur’I” exclaimed Bud, 
arriving just in time to see the sight. 
‘ ‘ She ’ll drown I She ’ll drown ! ’ ’ 

The girl, however, was keeping her sad- 
dle admirably as she and the horse reached 
the water in the awful plunge and disap- 
peared. He was fearfully excited by this 
time, and perhaps not unmoved by a spirit 
of gallantry, even in his crude make-up, as 
he unhesitatingly spurred his horse to a 
long, flying leap into the stream after her. 

By the time he struck the water the girl 
and her horse had risen and at once made 
for a low bank on the other side. Bud’s 
horse came up with a snort just afterwards, 
and his rider urged him on in the pursuit. 

The first horse was getting weary, and 
the other pony, being a bold swimmer and 
having better wind, came alongside of the 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


201 


girl, and Bud grasped her bridle-rein just 
as the two horses scrambled out together 
and stopped. 

‘‘Thar! karfoun’ my picturM’’ he mut- 
tered through the scattering, dripping 
hairs that hung over his mouth. 

“What do ye wantT’ cried the girl, as 
she pushed her long tresses out of her face 
and flashed defiance upon her captor. 

“Want ter stop yer horse from runnin’ 
erway with ye ! ’ ’ exclaimed Bud, astonished 
at the question. 

“An’ what did — ^ye want — ter stop — ’im 
fer?” she stammered. 

“Ter keep ’im from throwin’ an’ killin’ 
ye!” 

“Thar wa’n’t no danger o’ him er 
throwin’ me!” she exclaimed, tossing her 
head proudly, and adding: “And I’d jest 
as soon he’d er killed me es ter be skeered 
ter death by sich er lookin’ feller es ye 
air ! ’ ’ 

Bud had dropped her bridle-rein as it 
began to dawn on him that he had made a 
mistake somehow. 

‘ ‘ Waal, karf oun ’ my pictur ’ ! Wa ’n ’t he 
er runnin’ erway with ye!” he asked, 
rather sheepishly. 

“We both was er runnin’ erway from 
you!” she said, with a look of fight and 
fear in her eyes. 


202 


FLORIDA WILDS 


‘‘What was ye er runnin’ erway from 
me f er T ’ he asked, unable to understand. 

“Because ye air s^ ugly. Ye air enough 
ter sheer ther life outen any ’oman or 
horse, ary one!’’ 

“Waal, I own up I’m purty onsightly 
lookin’ since my face were swinged in ther 
fire last year when ther woods was burnt. 
But hit seemed ter me yer horse took er 
sheer on ’im, an’ I ’lowed ef I didn’ stop 
’im he’d bre’k yer neck,” answered Bud, 
humbly and somewhat apologetically, as he 
feasted his eyes upon the handsome face 
and form of the panting young woman. 

“Me an’ my horse alius teks er sheer et 
ther likes er you I ’ ’ she repeated, derisively, 
adding proudly: “An’ what do ye tek me 
fer? Thar ain’t no horse in these diggin’s 
thet kin bre ’k my neck ! ’ ’ 

“Karfoun’ my pictur’ ! I seed ye c’d ride 
lik’ ther devil,” answered Bud, emphati- 
cally, unable to conceal his admiration, “but 
I ’lowed he’d drown ye shore, when he got 
s’ sheered he lit inter ther creek.” 

“Hain’t ye no more sense ’n ter think 
er horse kin drown mef Didn’ I turn ’im 
inter ther creek m’self 

“Ye don’t mean ter say ye made thet 
horse jump from ther top o ’ thet bank inter 
ther water?” asked Bud, in unfeigned as- 
tonishment. 


FLOEIDA WILDS 203 

‘ ^ In course I did ! Me an ’ him don ’ t min ’ 
thet. We jumped inter ther creek from er 
higher place ’n thet t’other day, er headin’ 
er steer. But I hain’t no time ter be er 
settin’ hyer talkin’ ter er feller thet thinks 
I’m af eared ter run er horse ur swim er 
creek!” 

‘^W'aal, karfoun’ my pictur’l” uttered 
Bud, with increased admiration and almost 
stupid amazement. 

She gathered up her bridle-reins and her 
pony started, but Bud immediately ad- 
vanced alongside. 

‘‘Afore ye an’ me sep ’rates,” he began, 
“I want ter say hit ain’t more ’n nat’ral 
thet er man sh’d want ter help er ’oman ef 
he thinks she’s in trouble. Ef I bed er 
knowed ye better, I’d er ’lowed ye was able 
ter tek keer uv yerself an’ didn’ need no 
feller’s ertention. But I’m willin’ now, ef 
hit meks fr’en’s ’twixt us two, ter ’low thet 
I was er durned fool, an’ thet ye air ther 
beat ’nest gal ter ride er horse ur swim er 
creek thet ever I seed in all m’ life, an’ 
thet ye ain’t erfeered o’ nothin’ on ther 
yairth ’cep tin’ me! An’, karfoun’ my pic- 
tur’! I don’t mind addin’ thet ye air ther 
purtiest ’oman thet I ever laid m’ peepers 
on sence I was bawu !” 

Bud was not now acting the “durned 
fool” he said he was. He had tickled her 


204 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


vanity. Here was the keynote. What 
woman, crude or cultured, does not re- 
spond to praise, especially if it be of her 
beauty? And there was no question that 
Mandy, although drenched and dripping, 
looked as lovely as a mermaid, with her 
long, wavy hair, and her flushed face glow- 
ing with anger and indignation even 
through the streams of water that trickled 
down over its surface. 

She actually smiled as she turned toward 
the man who had so recently excited her 
dread and resentment. 

‘^Did ye say them was skyars on yer face 
from er fier?’^ she asked. 

‘‘Thetis what they air,” replied Bud. 

‘^An’ how did ye git burnt s’ bad?” 

Ther woods was all afire, an’ I heerd er 
gal er screamin’, an’ when I got thar, I seed 
she was s ’rounded by ther fire in the grass ; 
an’ I jest lit right through ’t an’ fetched 
’er out. She pertected ’er face, ergin my 
shoulder, but, karfoun’ my pictur’! I didn’ 
hev nuthin’ ter kiver mine with!” 

Mandy looked at him earnestly. His last 
words were pathetic. He had risked his 
life, perhaps, ''ter help er ’oman outen 
trouble,” and certainly had disfigured his 
face for life with "nuthin’ ter pertect it” 
in that brave act. At this moment he was 
riding by her side, drenched with water 


FLORIDA WILDS 


205 


into which he had recklessly plunged to 
save her from drowning, as he thought. 
She had not needed his services as the 
other girl had, but the heroic spirit he had 
manifested was just the same. Though not 
possessing the refinement of the heroine of 
a novel, there was enough womanly instinct 
in her crude nature to enable her to appre- 
ciate the manliness behind that scarred 
visage. 

“I reckin ye was purty good-lookin’ 
afore thet fire, wa’n’t ye?” 

‘^Thet’s what thet gal said.” 

‘‘Whar’s thet gal now?” in a changed 
tone. 

‘‘She’s er livin’ over in ther Possum 
Gum settlement.” 

“She mus’ think er pow’ful sight uv ye 
fer savin’ ’er life.” 

“Mebbe she does, but hit ain’t every gal 
thet keers fer er feller thet tries ter save 
’er life, ’ ’ answered Bud, with more feeling 
than he knew. 

“ ’Tain’t every gal thet needs er feller 
ter tek sich keer uv ’er ! ” Mandy fired back 
at him, resentfully. 

They had recrossed the creek on a bridge 
and arrived at the cross-roads when she ut- 
tered these words, and putting whip to her 
horse she galloped in the direction of her 
own home. 


206 


FLORIDA WILDS 


Eacli was thinking of the other, neither 
quite satisfied. 

^‘He is pow^ful ugly,’’ muttered Mandy, 
‘‘but hit’s er spunky kin’ uv er feller thet’ll 
jump inter fire ur water, ary one, t’ save er 
gal ! ’ ’ And she checked her horse down to 
a walk. 

“But I didn’ need no feller ter be er 
savin’ me !” she exclaimed, spiritedly. Then 
she mused in an irritated way : ‘ ‘ Thet Pos- 
sum Gum gal, though, was er needin’ help 
purty pyert when he got thar an’ she put 
’er arms erround ’im. She’s got ’im by 
ther neck yit, I reckin ! ’ ’ and she whipped 
her horse into a gallop again, conscious 
that she was cross, but could not tell what 
about. 

Bud had looked after her a few mo- 
ments and then turned the other way, mut- 
tering: “Thet’s jest my luck, pine-blank. 
Played ther durned fool erg’in, karfoun’ 
my pictur’!’' 


CHAPTER n 

“ay golly! I beck’n- — that’s a go” 

^ On the next monthly visit of the circuit- 
rider they were at “meetin’,” and McLeod, 
true to his promise, embraced the earliest 


FLOEIDA WILDS 207 

opportunity to introduce them to each 
other. 

‘‘Miss Mandy Gillson, I’ll make you ac- 
quainted with Mr. Bud Mosely.” 

They shook hands, Bud remarking: 

“We hev got erquainted afore.” 

“Mebbe ye air mistaken,” said Mandy, 
shooting a glance at Bud, which warned 
him not to say anything more on that sub- 
ject. 

Bud took the hint and said : 

“Waal, I’m pow’ful glad ter see ye, Miss 
Mandy. ’ ’ 

Their road lay for some distance in the 
same direction, and after service they were 
seen riding otf together, mounted on those 
tough, daring ponies that with these reck- 
less riders once took a flying leap, a deep 
dive, and a swim. 

Mac looked after them with a smile, re- 
marking, as he turned away: 

“Ay golly! I reck’n — that’s a go.” 

He had not heard of the incident at the 
creek and was taking to himself all the 
credit of a possible prospective match. 

One evening, the next week. Bud came 
over to see him. It seemed to his crude, 
inexperienced soul that he needed a little 
encouragement and advice, so he came to 
Mac as a sort of father confessor and coun- 
selor. Mac, having undertaken the job, was 


208 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


quite willing to lend a hand. He thought 
Bud a well-deserving young Cracker, more 
so than the general run of his class, and 
Mandy, he felt sure, was a worthy young 
woman, ‘‘Ay golly! well worth the 
catchinV’ as he expressed it. But to tell 
the truth, the novelty and humor of the 
thing in his hands had more attraction for 
him than anything else. So with much 
heartiness he greeted the young fellow as 
he dismounted. 

“Hello, Bud! Ay golly! I was just 
thinkin^ of you. Come an’ set down here 
on — this bench in the yard. Nobody here 
but you an’ me — an’ now I want you to tell 
me — ^how you’re gittin’ along with that gal 
— I picked out for you. ’ ’ 

“Waal,” said Bud, “thet’s pine-blank 
what I cum over ter see ye erbout. ’ ’ 

“That’s right,” said Mac; “I told you 
I’d start you off — all right, but if you need 
any — more help, ay golly ! I ’m your man. ’ ’ 
“Waal, I’m er gwine ter tell ye erbout 
ther scrape frum ther fust an’ then ye kin 
see how hit’s er workin’. Ye hain’t heam 
erbout ther race we hed in ther woods 
t’other day, hev ye?” 

‘ ‘ Eace ! No ; what kind — of a race ? ’ ’ 
“Waal, I was er cow-huntin’ on paw’s 
pony one day, an’ jest es I cum out ’n ther 
swamp, arter crossin’ et Bay Ford, I seed 


FLORIDA WILDS 


209 


her er ridin’ erhead o’ me erbout er hun- 
dred yards. An’ thinkin’ I’d ketch up an’ 
git erquainted, I rid purty pyert tell she 
looked back an’ seed me er cornin’, an’ her 
horse looked back an’ seed me et ther same 
time. An’ jist et thet minnit they lit out 
down ther road es fas’ es they c’d run. I 
’lowed her pony bed tuk er skeer et mine 
er lopin’ behind ’im, an’ was er runnin’ 
erway with ’er, an’ so I made my critter 
pack san’ lik’ ther devil ter overtek ’er 
afore she got ’er neck broke. An’ when 
they reached thet high bluff on Deep Creek 
erlong ther side uv ther road, what d’ye 
think thet durned pony o’ hern done but 
turn right suddent to ther top uv thet bluff 
an’ jist jump down, kersplash, inter ther 
warter?” 

‘ ‘ Ay golly ! not an ’ — ^her on top of him ? ’ ’ 
Jist thet er way, pine-blank, she er set- 
tin’ in ’er saddle, es straight es er Injun 
squaw, an’ er gwine down with ’im inter 
ther creek, plum out o’ sight!” 

‘‘Bud, ay golly! — you mus’ be a-lyin’!” 

“No, I ain’t er lyin’. Ef she didn’ mek 
thet dive inter ther water jist es slick es er 
fish-hawk. I’ll be dad-busted!” 

“And what the devil — did you do?” 

“Waal, I ’lowed she’d drown, shore, ef I 
didn’ ketch ’er purty pyert; so me an’ my 


210 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


nag didn’t stop er minnit, but bein’ jist be- 
hin’ ’er we lit in right arter ’er.” 

“An’ then, ay golly! — ^you saved ’er 
life!” 

“Saved ’er life! — ^karfoun’ my pictur’! 
she was s’ mad when I cum erlongside uv 
’er, an’ tol’ ’er I was tryin’ ter save ’er life, 
thet I b’lieve ef I’d got down arter we got 
ter Ian’ she’d er lit off ’n ’er critter an’ 
licked me ! ’ ’ 

“Ay golly! — ^what did she say?” 

“She ’lowed ’twa’n’t no horse in this 
country c’d bre’k her neck, an’ es fer 
jumpin’ off ’n ther bluff, she hed done thet 
afore off ’n er higher bluff, in headin’ er 
steer ! ’ ’ 

“W^hat was she a-runnin’ her horse for, 
then — an ’ cuttin ’ up all them pranks ? ’ ’ 

“Said she was skeered uv me! Said I 
was ther uglies’ man her an’ ’er horse ever 
laid the’r four eyes on — ^karfoun’ my pic- 
tur’!” 

“They couldn’t stand such a — ^lookin’ 
steer as thet, eh?” said Mac, roaring with 
laughter. “Well, Bud, I can’t blame ’em, 
ol’ fellow, though I’m sorry for you. But, 
ay golly! if there’s any fish in the — sea 
bigger ’n whale, that gal’s that fish, an’ — 
I tell you, ol’ hoss, she’s worth a-catchin’! 
How did you settle the racket?” 

“I jist owned up I was er durned fool, 


FLORIDA WILDS 


211 


an^ toD ’er she was the splendidest an’ like- 
liest gal I ever seed, an’ I couldn’t blame 
’er fer runnin’ fmm sich er devil uv er 
burnt face es mine. Thet kin’ er saf’ened 
’er er leetle, an’ she axed me erbout gittin’ 
burnt s’ bad, an’ I tol’ ’er erbout savin’ 
thet gal outen ther fire. Then she axed me 
whar thet gal is er livin’, an’ I tol’ ’er. 
An’ she ’lowed she ought ter think er 
durned sight uv me fur savin’ ’er life, an’ 
I ’lowed ’tain’t every gal thet thinks any 
more uv er feller fur tryin’ ter do ’er sich 
sarvice, an’ then she seemed ter git mad 
erg ’in, an’ said kin’ o’ snappish, ‘ ’Tain’t 
every gal thet needs er fellow ter save ’er 
life!’ An’ then she rid off an’ lef’ me. 

‘^T’other Sunday when I rid home with 
’er she wouldn’t hev much ter say, an’ 
axed me why didn’t I go an’ see thet gal 
in ther Possum Gum settlement.” 

^ ^Did she ask you that? Well, then. Bud, 
ol’ fellow — you’re all right. You’ve done 
as good courtin’ — as any fellow I ever seen. 
You kinder dug her up when you said every 
gal — didn’t appreciate a fellow’s tryin’ ter 
save ’er life, an’ — she was frettin’ for fear 
the Possum Gum gal showed up better ’n she 
did. An ’she wanted you to understand — she 
didn’t want no feller to think she — couldn’t 
run a horse or swim a creek — without him 
aroun’ to try to save her neck. I tell you, 


212 FLOEIDA WILDS 

Bud — ^women’s curious things. You can do 
a thing that pleases ’em, an’ — they’ll git 
mad at you for doin’ it — at the same time. 
An’ if you try to reason with them about 
it, an’ — ask ’em what they are mad for — 
they’ll tell you ‘because’; an’, ay golly! 
that’s all you can — git out of ’em, too. One 
thing they ain’t got an’ — that’s reason; 
but, golly! man, they’ve got plenty of 
feelin’. So you needn’t mind — ^what they 
say all the time. Watch out to see which 
way — they are feelin’, an’ when you’re 
courtin’ a gal — if the name of another gal 
makes ’er — ask questions an’ gits ’er 
kinder riled up — ^you can bet her feelin ’s is 
a-runnin’ toward you. Keep her uneasy 
about the other gal — ^it does ’em good. 
They’ll git mad at you about it, but — ay 
golly! they’ll love you the harder for it. 
If you don’t keep ’em anxious they’ll — 
think you ain ’t worth much. But you make 
’em think another gal wants you — golly! 
you’ll see how quickly they’ll come ’roun’.” 


CHAPTER III 

THE HAND OF THE MATCH-MAKER 

Some weeks afterwards, when they met 
again, Bud said: 

“Waal, Mac, I’ve been er tryin’ thet plan 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


213 


lik’ ye said, an’ ther nex’ time I seed 
Mandy I says, ^ The Possum Gum gal axed 
me ter cum over, an ’ I did. ’ An ’ she looked 
et me kinder quick an’ she says, ‘Ye did, 
hehr An’ I says, ‘Yes, I went over thar 
an’ spent las’ Sunday in ther settlement.’ 

“ ‘Waal,’ she says, ‘Bill Sykes, he was 
up hyer an’ spent las’ Sunday, an’ him an’ 
me rid out tergether an’ driv up ther cows.’ 

‘ ‘ I felt kind o ’ chawed when she said thet, 
but tried ter turn hit off by tollin’ ’er what 
er fine time I hed er gwine ter church with 
thet gal an’ settin’ up erlongside uv ’er in 
meetin’. She kep’ on er tryin’ ter turn hit 
off erg ’in on Bill Sykes, but I thought 
erbout what you tol’ me an’ was er watchin’ 
’er feelin’s more ’n what she was er sayin’. 
W^hen I seed I got ’er rale worrit, an’ was 
feelin’ er leetle bad m’self, too, erbout Bill 
Sykes, I ’lowed mebbe I’d better be er 
leavin’ an’ see ye erbout hit afore I went 
any furder.” 

“You done right. Bud,” said Mac, rub- 
bing his forehead, and trying to think what 
his next step should be. Match-making was 
not counted among all his experiences, 
though he had had many and varied. ‘ ‘ But 
now I’ve got into it,” he mused, “I’m — 
a-goin’ to see it through.” Not being able 
to fix his plans in a moment, and his humor 
clamoring for some comical feature in spite 


214 FLORIDA WILDS 

of the seeming perplexity, he needed a 
little time. 

So, trusting to his ingenuity to devise 
ways and means, he repeated to Bud; 

‘‘Yes, you done just right — to come to 
me. You’re courtin’ ’er fine; an’ — she’s 
playin’ Bill Sykes on you to try you. Bill’s 
a wuthless cuss. He ain’t got no snap an’ 
— she knows it. He’s just livin’ off his 
daddy an’ — ain’t got no farm, nor house 
like you, an’ — ^he never would a- jumped 
into that creek like you, an’ — gals is smart 
enough to think of all these things. You 
come back to see me next week an’ — I’ll 
tell you what to do. ’ ’ 

Mac was on friendly, almost intimate, 
terms with all the neighbors, and not less 
so with Mandy herself than any of the 
others. Indeed, recognizing his class su- 
periority, she was always flattered by any 
attentions he bestowed on her. So the fol- 
lowing afternoon he seemed to fall in ac- 
cidentally with her as he rode through the 
woods and helped her drive her Uncle 
Simpson’s cattle home. 

It did not take him long, in a tactful way, 
to win her confidence and learn that Bud 
was her favorite. He put in a good word 
for that individual, of course, adding that 
he had heard Bud say he “wouldn’t swap 


FLOEIDA WILDS 215 

lier for a whole cow-pen full o’ them Pos- 
sum Gum gals. ’ ’ 

However, he inspired Mandy with suffi- 
cient coquettish spirit to keep them both on 
the ‘‘anxious string.” 

“Ay golly!” he said, “you’re a likely 
gal an’ — ^both of them fellows wants you, 
an’ — if I was you I wouldn’t let ’em know 
which one was goin’ to git me, up to purty 
night the last minute. ’ ’ 

Mandy was more than willing to be 
guided by “sich er knowin’ man es Mr. 
Billy McLeod,” and was not a little flat- 
tered that he should take so lively an in- 
terest in her affairs. 

Mac, while he would relish the suspense 
which he had thus assured to Bud and Bill 
Sykes, was forming in his own mind a novel 
climax which he intended the whole com- 
munity to witness at its consummation, the 
full import of which, however, he meant 
should be secretly enjoyed only by himself 
and a few favored friends. 

Bud pursued his courtship under Mac’s 
direction, and Mandy encouraged him, 
though she would at most unexpected times 
surprise and distress him by some partial 
reference to Bill Sykes. Bill was also kept 
in hope, but could not get the wary damsel 
to commit herself positively to any promise 
that would bind her to him. To his mind 


216 FLORIDA WILDS 

she seemed to be unable to decide between 
the two rivals, and yet he thought there 
should be no room for hesitation in choos- 
ing between his broad, smooth face and the 
thinner and scorched visage that Bud pre- 
sented. 

‘ ‘ Pitch in, Bill, ’ ’ Mac would say. ‘ ‘ Don ’t 
be discouraged. Tell her how good-lookin’ 
you are — alongside o’ Bud.” 

‘ ‘ Kindle up your spunk. Bud, ’ ’ he would 
say to the other aspirant. ‘^Talk to ’er 
about your house an’ — ^your farm.” 

“Keep ’em both anxious, Mandy, till 
you’re most ready, an’ — then let me know, 
an’ — ay golly! we’ll fix ’em,” would be his 
counsel to the good-looking lass. 

After these conditions had been in prog- 
ress for some months, Bud and Bill met one 
day at old Simpson’s. The situation was 
getting interesting, and the two lovers, de- 
termined, under Mac’s counsel, to end their 
suspense, had agreed to come together 
before Mandy for her final decision. It 
was Sunday afternoon, and as the Crackers 
always devoutly keep Sunday, all these 
had ample time from “farmin’ and hawg 
huntin’ ” to give to this all-absorbing sub- 
ject. 

The young men were sitting on a bench 
in front of Mandy, who occupied a rawhide- 


FLOEIDA WILDS 217 

bottom home-made chair under a mulberry 
tree. 

Bill Sykes, of a little more confident na- 
ture, opened the subject. 

^'Mandy,’’ said he, ‘‘me an’ Bud has 
agreed thet we’d come ter see ye tergether 
this evenin’. ’Tain’t no use havin’ er long 
talk. Ye knows we both likes ye pow’ful 
well, an’ ef ye air willin’ ter hev one er 
t’other uv us, we ax ye ter say it ter our 
face, which one ye air er min’ ter tek. Ain’t 
thet what ye say. Bud?” 

“Them’s my sentements, pine-blank,” 
Bud answered. 

Mandy was not in the least disconcerted. 
Bud, she remembered, had admitted that to 
his mind she was worth “er cow-pen full o’ 
them Possum Gum gals, ’ ’ and Bill she knew 
had no other attraction. Courted and pre- 
ferred above all others by the two swains 
before her, she was complimented and in- 
dependent. She had enjoyed, as does many 
a girl in higher life, the admiration and de- 
votion that had been lavished on her, and 
exulted over the fact that her charms had 
brought more than one man to her feet. 

Flushed with pride, her natural beauty 
showed to great advantage then as her dark 
eyes rested upon the two rivals for her 
hand. She had teased them severely, she 
knew, but Mr. McLeod had told her that as 


218 FLOEIDA WILDS 

a girl did not have the privilege of courting 
men, as the men had of courting as many 
girls as they pleased, it was only fair that 
she should have her share of fun out of all 
the fellows that courted her. 

She honestly liked both the young men, 
but Bill was evidently lazy and good for 
nothing, while he was handsome, and that 
one quality goes a long way with a girl. 

Bud, in spite of a homely face, had shown 
some evidences of thrift, and certainly was 
quick and daring, regardless of self, and 
these things had a charm for a girl so in- 
dustrious and dashing and fearless as she. 

Those girls who have had the advantages 
of culture and delicate training, perhaps, 
under such circumstances would not have 
evinced less conscious pride than this crude 
country maiden, though they might have 
disposed of the case differently. 

The luscious red lips parted in a smile 
that revealed her broad, white teeth, as she 
said: 

^‘Waal, Bill Sykes, I^m willin’ ter be 
fyar. I’ll tell ye ’pon my word, I like both 
o ’ ye fellers. But er ’oman has some rights 
es well es men. Ef ye axes er gal ter hev 
ye, an’ she says ‘no,’ ye kin go an’ ax 
ernuther un. But er gal hes got ter tek 
her choice outen sich men es axes ’er. In 
doin’ thet she hes ther right ter look erhead 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


219 


an’ see which feller kin mek ther bes’ 
showin’ fer er livin’ fer ’er. Now I will ax 
ye, hev ye got er house an’ place uv yer 
own to tek er ’oman ter, ef she’ll hev ye?” 

‘‘No,” answered Bill, looking abashed, 
“I hain’t es yit. But my dad says he’ll 
hope me ter mek er settlement soon es I kin 
git er gal ter hev me. ’ ’ 

“Waal, I mus’ say. Bill, I like ter see er 
feller hev ernuft spunk ter git out an’ mek 
er settlement fer hisself, an’ not wait on 
his dad ter hope ’im do hit, after he gits er 
gal on his ban’s. Ernuther question I wants 
ter ax ye, kin ye ride er horse like the very 
or Nick hisself?” 

“I hain’t never seen ’im ride, but I kin 
run er horse erlongside uv any man thet 
ever lived ur died!” exclaimed Bill, with 
enthusiasm. 

“Waal, now, Bud,” continued the cov- 
eted lass, paying no further attention to 
Bill and his boast, “what hev ye got for 
er gal thet ye’d ax ter hev ye?” 

“I hev got er house an’ er farm!” Bud 
burst forth, with much exultation in his 
tone. 

“An’,” resumed Mandy, laughing, “hit 
ain ’t no use ter ax ye ef ye kin ride ! ’ ’ 

“Ef I kayn’t ride lik’ ther very devil, 
karfoun’ my pictur’!” he exclaimed, his 
scarred face glowing with the impetuosity 


220 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


of his nature and the recollections of a cer- 
tain thrilling incident. 

‘‘Waal, now, boys,’’ Mandy rejoined, in 
a kind and condescending way, “es I said 
et ther very fust, I’m willin’ ter be fyar. 
I like ye both an’ hit meks me feel good fer 
ye both ter think so’ much uv me. I kayn’t 
hev ye both ’n course, but I’ll tell ye what 
I’m willin’ ter do: I’ll throw out o’ ther 
cackerlation all erbout ther house an’ set- 
tlement, an’ leave the deciden uv ther case 
ter ther ridin’. Ye both knows I kin ride 
some m’self, an’ ef thar’s anythin’ I like 
better ’n er house an’ er farm, hits er 
ridin’. An’ I think ef thar’s anythin’ ’d 
mek me happier ’n everythin’ else on ther 
top side o’ ther yairth on my weddin’-day, 
hit ’d be er ridin’ er horse jest es fas’ es 
he c’d go ter save ’is life. Now I’ll say 
what I’m willin’ ter do: I’ll set Sa’dd’y, 
ther tenth uv June, fer ther day, an’ we’ll 
ax all ther neighbors ter come an’ see ther 
fun. I’ll tek Uncle Simpson’s pony an’ ye 
boys kin tek yer own horses, an’ we’ll go 
out ter ther straight public road whar ther 
groun’ is hard an’ run er race. We’ll hev 
j edges et both een’s uv ther line o’ three 
hundred yards, an’ ef ye fellers ’ll ergree 
to start even, an’ give me fifty yards ther 
start uv ye. I’ll ergree thet ther feller thet 
’ll ketch me fust, afore reachin’ ther mark 


FLOEIDA WILDS 221 

et ther other een’ o’ ther line, I’ll hev fer 
my hnsban’.” 

^‘Ergreedl ergreed!” they both ex- 
claimed, jumping to their feet. 

‘‘Ain’t thet fyar?” the girl asked, enjoy- 
ing their enthusiasm. 

“Hit’s es fyar es sunshine on er clair 
day!” said Bill, and Bud added, emphatic- 
ally: 

“Ef that ain’t so, karfoun’ my pictur’ !” 

“Now,” resumed Mandy, “thar’s jest 
one more thing I hev got ter say, an’ hit’s 
this : Ef nary one uv ye fellers ketches me 
on thet three-hundred-yard run, I won’t 
hev ary one uv ye. Ef one outen two men 
kayn’t ketch er gal on er horse race with 
unly fifty yards ther start, he ain’t wuth 
ther hevin’ an’ kayn’t git me!” 

The boys laughed and said she was just 
right, and in that case they would never ask 
her again. 


CHAPTER IV 

THE EACE 

Mac, who received it all as news when 
Bud came over to tell him about the plan 
of the contemplated race, said : 

‘ ‘ Ay golly ! Bud, that ’s bully ! It kind o ’ 


222 FLOEIDA WILDS 

reminds me of the way they — do things in 
the old country. That gal Mandy bangs my 
time. Who’d ever thought o’ such— a 
thing but her! Well, ay golly! that pony 
of — your paw’s runs like a deer. But old 
man Syke’s pony that Bill ’ll ride^ — ain’t 
no slouch, neither. You’ll have to do your 
dog-gonedest to beat Bill. An’ as for old 
Simpson’s pony that — Mandy ’ll ride, I 
seen her headin’ a heifer the other day, an’ 
golly ! he can fly like lightnin’ ! 

Bud wasn’t receiving much encourage- 
ment this time, and showed that he was get- 
ting nervous. Mac was smoking his pipe 
and enjoying the situation immensely. 

Presently he added : 

‘‘Well, I’ll tell you. Bud, ay golly! — 
you’ve got to beat Bill Sykes, or I’ll never 
speak to you again. But I don’t know about 
either one o’ you fellows — catchin’ that gal 
on that flyin’ boss of ol’ Simpson’s.” 

“Karfoun’ my pictur’!” exclaimed Bud, 
in desperation, “I ketched ’er once afore 
on thet hoss by outwindin’ ’im, an’ I kin 
do hit erg ’in in er three-hundred-yard race. 
An’ es fer big, fat Bill Sykes, I’ll beat ’im 
er bust!” 

“Ay golly! that’s the way — to talk it. 
Bud! But you know, it ain’t best — to be 
too sure. That gal’s hoss might ’av’ been 
tired — that day you out-winded ’im, an’ — 


FLOEIDA WILDS 223 

Bill Sykes brags that he can — outride any 
man in this country ! ’ ’ 

Bud went oil all afire. Mac had achieved 
his purpose. He knew Bud would lose no 
time or effort in preparation, and he had 
stirred him up so that he would not fail to 
win through over-confidence. 

As for himself, he was an accomplished 
judge of horses and had already availed 
himself of opportunities — no one suspect- 
ing his scheme — of examining the three 
ponies to be engaged in the race, and 
thought he could guess which would win. 

Bill Sykes met him in town a few days 
after this, and again he received the an- 
nouncement of the race that Mandy had 
appointed, as fresh news. 

‘^That^s fine. Bill I he said. ‘‘There 
ain’t another gal in — this country ’d 
thought o ’ that. I tell you. Bill, she ’s worth 
— runnin’ a race for, an’, ay golly! — if one 
o’ you fellows don’t catch ’er, you both — 
ought to be shot I ” 

“Ketch ’er!” exclaimed Bill, with a guf- 
faw, “w’y, man, hit won’t be no race at all. 
Bud an’ his hoss ain’t nowhar ’longside o’ 
me an’ mine; an’ es fer thet gal — ef I 
kayn’t outride ’er ’oman my name ain’t 
‘Bill Sykes, ther cowboy’!” 

Bill had heard Mac tell of the wondrous 
feats in horsemanship performed by the 


224 


FLORIDA WILDS 


cowboys in the Wild West, and fancying he 
was equal to the best, he had applied the 
significant title to himself. 

‘‘Well,’’ said Mac, smiling over Bill’s 
bluster, “don’t wind up the race too soon. 
There’ll be a big crowd, an’ golly! — it’ll be 
fun ! ’ ’ 

“I’ll spin hit out long emough ter give 
’em all ther fun they want,” boasted Bill, 
adding: “An’ et ther eend they’ll see me 
come out ahead with ther gal ! ’ ’ 

Mac stopped at old Simpson’s on his way 
back home. 

“Well, Mandy,” he said to that smiling 
damsel, as she came from her churn, wiping 
her hands on her clean, white apron, “ay 
golly! how is it a-workin’f” 

“Splendid!” she exclaimed, laughing. 
“I hev got ther boys s’ worked up they air 
all but half outen the’r heads ! I jest hed 
ter tell ’em both ter stay erway frum hyer 
now, an’ I wouldn’t see nary one uv ’em 
erg ’in tell Sa’dd’y when we all meets on 
ther groun’s.” 

Mac laughed and said : 

“I have been stirrin’ ’em both up, too. 
But, ay golly! how do you — think it’ll come 
out?” 

“Waal, ef my pony hed ther wind ther 
wouldn ’t nary one uv ’em ’d ketch me. But 
Uncle Simpson’s er givin’ ’im sumthin’ an’ 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


225 


rubbin’ ’im all over et night, an’ he say& 
he ’s improvin So I might come out ahead 
yit. Hit ’ll depen’ snm’at on who’s thar 
closes’ berhin’ me!” she added, with a 
smile and a shrug of the shoulders, which 
Mac understood. 

Mandy was an orphan, used to hard 
work, and had been taken to live with her 
uncle. 

Old Jim Simpson was a thrifty Cracker 
— an article extremely rare. He had a 
little stock of cattle and many hogs, so 
there was no lack of milk, butter and meat ; 
while his farm, worked by himself and 
three grown sons, yielded corn and cotton 
sufficient to exchange for all market sup- 
plies that were needed to make a plain^ 
comfortable living. So when Mandy ’s 
wedding-day approached he determined to 
make it an occasion of wonder and envy to 
all other Crackers within a radius of twenty 
miles or more. 

He had entered into the spirit of the race 
for his handsome niece with great relish ^ 
and anticipated with much pride the no- 
toriety so unprecedented an event would 
bring to him and his family. He was more 
than willing to provide a bountiful feast 
for the large company he knew would come, 
and with no little vanity did he chuckle to 
himself as he thought of the admiring 


226 


FLORIDA WILDS 


glances his poor neighbors, froni their one- 
room cabins, would cast upon his six-room 
log-house, spread out in the big mulberry 
grove, and the display he would make of 
^ ‘ plenty o ’ vittles an ^ do ’s. ’ ’ 

Accordingly, a week before, one of the 
young men went throughout the country to 
give “an invite ter ther big race an’ Cousin 
Mandy ’s weddin ’, an ’ ther shin-dig. ’ ’ This 
last was the dance — “ther reg’lar Cracker 
bre’k-down” — ever inseparable from any 
festive occasion among these people. 

A hundred or more gathered at this time, 
some coming from longer distances with 
ponies or ox-carts, the men riding and the 
women walking — as much a custom among 
the tvpical Crackers as might have been 
expected among those Oriental people 
whose men compel their women to bear the 
burden and enjoy the softer places them- 
selves. 

The hour for the race was four o’clock in 
the afternoon; clouds obscured the sun; a 
gentle breeze was blowing, and all things 
conspired to make the occasion in every 
way agreeable. 

By a sort of common and yet tacit con- 
sent, McLeod was regarded as “ther feller 
ter tell ’em all how ter do” — the marshal 
of the day; but no one could find him on 
the grounds, the appointed place on the 


FLORIDA WILDS 


227 


public road, where the great crowd had as- 
sembled. Just about four o’clock, how- 
ever, some fellow shouted: 

‘‘Yander he comes!” 

As all turned to look, several more voices 
joined in with : 

“Yaas, an’ jest berhin’ ’im is ther gal 
an’ ther boys!” 

‘‘Thet’s so,” said Uncle Ichabod Fore- 
akers, the old Hardshell Baptist parson, 
who was to ‘‘tie ther knot.” “Thet’s so,” 
he repeated, adding, as he adjusted his 
spectacles: “Thar’s ther hull kittle an’ 
bilin’ uv ’em.” 

Mac had dressed himself in his old war 
uniform, jacket and pants, with the latter 
stuck into his old cavalry boots, to which 
he had attached the great spurs of the 
trooper, and on his head was placed the old 
military cap that he had often worn on 
more war-like occasions. 

In this distinctive costume and carrying 
his splendid form in a soldierly manner, he 
looked quite commanding among all those 
plainly clad Crackers. 

Behind him rode the racers. 

Mandy was dressed in crimson, wearing 
a broad palmetto hat, trimmed in red flow- 
ers. She was positively lovely as her fine 
face, flushed with excitement and glowing 
with health, beamed upon the spectators, 


228 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


and her beautiful teeth shone through lips 
parted in a radiant smile. 

On either side of her rode the determined 
rivals, each wishing he could dare to lay his 
arm around her at that moment and claim 
her as his own while the admiring crowd 
looked on. 

At this instant, McLeod wheeled his 
horse across the road in front of the other 
riders with the command, ^ ‘ Halt ! ^ ’ 

Then directing them to remain and await 
further orders, he rode forward and ar- 
ranged the spectators in a row on either 
side, as they preferred, along the way, or 
near the end of the line, the ground having 
been laid off and staked the day before. 
This done, he came back and put the racers 
in position. The public road was broad, 
hard, and smooth. The girl, who had re- 
moved her hat and let her long, flaxen hair 
fall over her shoulders, was placed on a 
mark across the road just fifty yards in 
front of the first mark, at which the young 
men were stationed, there being a space 
five or six feet in width between these two 
as they reined up parallel with each other. 
Then two older neighbors were placed one 
on each side of them to see that they started 
fairly. In the rear of all a man with a gun 
was posted to fire the signal for the start. 

McLeod chose a special comrade to act 


FLORIDA WILDS 


229 


as final judge with himself, and they took 
their places opposite each other, at the 
other end of the line, where they awaited 
another man, who in a few minutes rode 
out into the center of the road between 
them and quickly raised a large, white flag 
on a staff high above his head. This was 
to signify that all was ready for the signal 
gun, which was immediately fired, and the 
start was simultaneously made as the 
crowd set up a tremendous yell. The ex- 
citement was most intense, and the yelling 
and gesticulation continuous as on dashed 
the reckless riders at a seeming fearful 
rate of speed. 

Mandy^s beautiful hair was streaming 
behind her like a mass of golden threads ; 
and her horse, under a frequent cut of the 
whip, seemed distancing his pursuers, who 
were also laying on the lash at every leap. 
Two hundred yards were passed when the 
pursuers began to gain, Mandy’s horse los- 
ing wind. Yell still followed yell, and ex- 
citement was reaching almost to frenzy, as 
the heads of the men’s horses still re- 
mained even and both were gaining on 
Mandy. When they were within fifty yards 
of the end, only ten feet lay between the 
even noses of the pursuing horses and the 
tail of the pursued. It looked as if Mandy 
might yet escape them both, or, if not. 


230 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


which would be the gainer it was impossi- 
ble to tell. But amid the wild vociferous 
shouts and mad jumps into the air of the 
spectators, now almost insane with excite- 
ment, the pursuers gained, one on either 
side, but still even, when, just before they 
crossed the line. Bud, by means of his long, 
wirey arms and legs, managed to stretch 
himself out and snatch Mandy from her 
horse, bringing her to the neck of his own, 
just as the fat and clumsy Bill Sykes’s 
plump hand reached out and clawed at the 
empty saddle! 

The crowd went absolutely wild — it is im- 
possible to describe the scene, with the hys- 
terical shouts, yells, laughter and hurrah- 
ing ! But the horses had scarcely stopped 
when Mac was by Bud’s side and, leaping 
from his horse, helped Mandy to the 
ground. 

It is needless to say that Mac was in his 
glory. His whole scheme had worked out 
to perfection, and he never was so beside 
himself with delight or so gratified in any 
pleasure he had afforded a crowd. 

‘‘Ay golly!” he exclaimed, as he lifted 
the girl from the neck of Bud’s horse, “ay 
golly ! I say, Mandy, I think I deserve the 
first kiss.” 

“Ye kin hev it,” she said, and she 
smacked him in the mouth, while the crowd 


FLORIDA WILDS 231 

cheered again. Bill Sykes might have been 
considered the only unhappy spirit there, 
but he immediately rode away with the Pos- 
sum Gum gal, and said loud enough for 
many to hear : 

‘‘I tell ye^ Sary Ann, I jest let Bud hev 
her ter git ’im out’n my way, so I c’d come 
ter see ye.’’ 

Sary Ann had some sour grapes of her 
own to digest, so she answer^ : 

^‘Thet suits me pine-blank. Bill, an’ I’m 
pow’ful glad they’re outen ther way o’ both 
uv us. ’ ’ 


CHAPTER V 

THE SEQUEL 

In the meantime. Bud and Mandy stood 
arm in arm, while the crowd yelled : 

^ ^ Parson ! parson ! ’ ’ 

Uncle Ichabod came slowly forward, as- 
suming great dignity. 

‘‘I’m hyer,” he said. “What will ye 
hev?” 

“Marry ’em!” “Tie ther knot!” 
“Clinch ’em!” were the exclamations from 
many different throats. 

“Air ye ready ter git merried?” asked 
Uncle Ichabod, with deep solemnity, ad- 


232 


FLORIDA WILDS 


dressing the couple as they had been 
pushed before him. 

“We air es ready es we’ll ever be, while 
we live ur die, an’ thet means right this 
minnit; ain’t thet so, Mandy?” replied 
Bud. 

“Jest thet way. Bud. I said I’d hev ye 
-ef ye c’d ketch me, an’ I’ll keep m’ word. 
Ye done hit fyar.” 

“Waal,” said the parson, gravely, “ye 
mus’ know thet accordin’ ter Scripter an’ 
ther laws uv ther Medes an’ Pershuns, 
which changith not, er priest an’ preacher 
uv ther unly true church in Ameril^ kayn’t 
merry people ’nless they hev been dipped 
under ther warter. Now I ax ye sollumly, 
in ther presence uv all these people, ter an- 
swer me es true es ye hope ter git fergive- 
ness fer all yer meanness on ther yairth, 
hev ye both been dipped!” 

Here was a stunner — a most unexpected 
turn of affairs ; Bud and Mandy stared and 
the crowd gathered more closely around, a 
sort of awe seeming to fall on all the as- 
sembly by the solemn manner and rigid 
exactions of the parson. But before Bud 
could find words to speak, knowing that he 
was an undipped sinner and fearing Mandy 
was equally wicked, McLeod, usually ready 
for emergencies, stepped up and said : 

“Yes, parson; you must excuse the — 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


233 


young folks bein’ bashful an’ slow about 
speakin’ — ^but I can assure you they both 
have been dipped, an’, ay golly! dipped 
good, too!” 

‘‘When were they dipped?” asked the 
parson, with an incredulous air. 

“I think it was about — a year ago, par- 
son,” answered Mac. 

“Why don’t ye speak fer yerselves?” in- 
quired the parson, with a searching stare 
at the guilty-looking couple. 

“Waal, I think,” said Bud, “hit’s been 
jest erbout thet time, don’t ye, Mandy?” 

‘ ‘ Hit was jest the fust day uv las ’ June, ’ ’ 
confidently asserted Mandy, who had never 
forgotten that memorable date. 

“An’ whar were ye dipped?” persisted 
the parson, convinced there was some mys- 
tery that he hadn’t yet fathomed. 

“Over yander in Deep Creek,” replied 
Bud. 

“An’ now,” resumed Uncle Ichabod, 
with a scowl of indignation on his brow, 
and in a tone of authority, “I want ye ter 
tell me who dipped ye; fer no man, ’ceptin’ 
me in these diggin’s, hes ther ’postolic 
right, handed down frum Scrip tur, an’ ther 
laws uv ther Medes an’ Pershuns, thet 
changith not, ter dip er sinner under ther 
warter?” 


234 FLOEIDA WILDS 

Mac again attempted to come to the 
rescue. 

‘‘Well, parson, I don^t know as we can 
give you the name of the — apostle that done 
it. It was all done so quick I don^t — think 
they had time to ask any names. But there 
was witnesses.’’ 

“Perduce ’em!” thundered the parson, 
now beginning to be convinced that there 
was a deliberate attempt to hoodwink him. 

“Perduce yer witnesses!” he demanded. 

Mac winked at Bud and Mandy to let 
him handle the parson, and replied: 

“Well, Bud he seen Mandy go under, an’ 
by the time she riz, she seen him take the 
next dip. An’ now, parson, I think the 
Scripture says, ‘Out of the mouth of two 
witnesses — the truth shall be established.’ 
Ay golly! I have furnished you — the two 
witnesses !” 

A good many in the crowd had heard of 
that now famous double dive, and quite a 
general laugh followed Mac’s speech. 

But Uncle Ichabod was in ignorance of 
the cause of the mirth, and feeling that his 
dignity was being brought into ridicule, 
grew wrathy. 

“I deman’,” he said, “er explanation of 
all this hyer humbug an’ disrespec’, an’ ef 
hit ain’t giv ter me purty pyert, thar won’t 
be no weddin’ ter-day!” 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


235 


Bud’s fractious nature began to show it- 
self in the twitching muscles of his face 
when the parson blurted out this threat. 
But Mandy, catching another wink from 
McLeod, put her hand over Bud’s mouth 
and spoke out, smiling so pleasantly that 
she got the control of the situation: 

‘‘Well, Uncle Ichabod, ye mus’n’t min’ 
Mr. McLeod’s little jokes. He kayii’t help 
hit. Ef ye hed seen thet dippin’ ye’d 
’lowed hit was purty well done, yerse’f, 
when my horse lit out frum er high bluff 
an’ tuk me down ter ther bottom uv ther 
creek, an’ Bud’s horse cum er tumblin’ in 
with him right arter me ! ’ ’ 

Mandy was laughing, and her beautiful 
teeth and merry eyes and blushing cheeks 
presented an irresistible picture. The 
whole crowd sent up a shout of merriment, 
and Uncle Ichabod could not resist the 
magnetic effect, remarking, with a hearty 
chuckle : 

“Thet must er been er sight worth er 
seein’!” 

Old Hugh, who had kept quiet all this 
time, enjoying Mac’s fun, now stepped for- 
ward, and the thunder tones of his voice 
soon brought the crowd to silence. 

“Pr’en’s,” said he, “ ’twouldn’t er been 
no weddin’ worth ye all er cornin’ ter see, 
ef we hedn’t er hed Mac erlong ter mek 


236 


FLORIDA WILDS 


some fun. But, parson, 1^11 tell ye, I hain^t 
never bed Bud dipped according ter Scrip- 
tur’ an’ them laws ye air er talkin’ erbout, 
an’ Mandy she hain’t been dipped thet way 
nuther. Now I want ’em linked tergether 
in ’cordence with Scriptur’ an’ ther law, 
an’ ef ye say hit kayn’t be done no other 
way, I ’low ye’d better tek ’em down to 
ther lake over on t’other side o’ ther road 
an’ dip ’em.” 

‘‘We air willin’,” said Bud. “Me an’ 
Mandy never stan’s back fer warter!” 

Mac nodded his head and shot another 
wink at Bud and Mandy. 

And so down to the shallow lake all 
moved, the parson walking between the two 
young people and wading out into the water 
to where it was waist deep. 

Then, having them turn their faces to- 
ward the shore, he had Mandy to clasp his 
left hand and Bud his right, when he said : 

“Bud Mosely and Mandy Gillson, ac- 
cordin’ ter Scriptur an’ ther laws of ther 
Medes an’ Pershuns, thet changith not, I 
dip ye under these warters an’ wash off 
ther wickedness uv yer flesh.” 

Suiting the action to the word, he pushed 
them suddenly over backward, and they 
went to the bottom, their double weight, 
unexpectedly to the parson, pulling him 
under with them ! 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


237 


The crowd could not resist the tempta- 
tion to send up another shout, and the 
laughing continued till the dripping figures 
reached the shore, Mac remarking, with a 
quiet grin : 

‘‘Ay golly! I reckon him an’ me ’ll drop 
the subject o’ dippin’ now!” 

Their horses were in readiness when 
they landed, and mounting immediately, the 
young couple set out at a furious gallop for 
Simpson’s, and were ready in dry suits to 
greet their friends when they arrived. One 
of the young men had loaned Bud a change 
of raiment, and old Simpson accommodated 
the parson ; so within a short time the pro- 
ceedings which that scrupulous apostle had 
so imexpectedly interrupted were ready to 
be resumed. 

Standing out under the mulberry tree so 
that all could see, the parson facing the 
couple and again assuming great dignity, 
said, in a deep tone of voice : 

“Air ye young people now ready ter git 
merried ? ’ ’ 

They both nodded their assent. 

“Waal, then,” resumed the parson, with 
an air that seemed to indicate that a thun- 
derbolt was coming which would restore to 
him all the prestige he might have lost, 
however much it might discomfit the public 


238 FLOEIDA WILDS 

expectation, ‘‘waal, then, Bud, wharfs yer 
licenser’ 

Bud’s face grew white, his under- jaw 
dropped, and he let go Mandy’s hand which 
he had been holding with an air of owner- 
ship. She also turned pale. All waited a 
moment in breathless silence, when Bud 
spoke: 

‘‘Ef I hain’t been s’ busy er thinkin’ 
erbout thet race fer Mandy erg ’in Bill 
Sykes, thet I fergot ter git thet license, kar- 
foun’ my pictur’!” 

The county clerk’s office was twenty 
miles away. Bud and Mandy looked as 
blank as two stone slabs, and the crowd 
evinced the deepest disappointment as this 
most unfortunate situation dawned upon 
them. Uncle Ichabod was unmoved by this 
sudden upsetting of all calculations of the 
day, beyond the relish he manifested of 
‘ ‘ getting even, ” as he bit off a fresh mouth- 
ful of tobacco and chewed and spat vigor- 
ously during the interval of silence that 
followed Bud’s distressing announcement. 
Nobody seemed to know what to do, and the 
disappointment was overwhelming. Pres- 
ently Bud spoke again : 

‘‘Parson,” he ventured, and stopped, 
much abashed and anxious beyond measure. 

“Parson,” he began again, “ain’t ther 
no way ye kin go on with ther bizness an^ 


FLORIDA WILDS 


239 


let some feller go ter town fer ther license 
ter-night an’ fetch hit ter ye in ther 
mawnin’?” 

‘‘No, sir-ee!” exclaimed the parson, tri- 
umphantly. “No, sir; hit kayn’t be done 
thet er way. I hev been er jinin’ people 
tergether in ther holy bon’s uv metrimony 
fer nigh onter fifty year, an’ hit’s never yit 
been knowed of Ichabod Foreakers thet 
he’d ever do sech er thing ’thout er license, 
enny more ’n he’d tell er lie in er horse 
swap!” 

That settled it. The telling of a lie in a 
horse swap was considered by those simple 
Crackers a privilege that belonged exclu- 
sively to the laity ; and even they must not 
be caught in an act that was universally 
acknowledged to be “meaner ’n the devil 
hisself ’d do!” But for a parson to do 
such a thing — ^it was not to be thought of. 

The utmost consternation settled over 
the countenances of the couple and the 
crowd. 

“Ter break up er weddin’ right in ther 
middle uv hit this er way, is er pow’ful bad 
sign,” could be heard in murmurs as the 
old inhabitants shook their heads and the 
younger ones stared in silence, and Bud 
and Mandy looked as if they were contem- 
plating their funeral rather than their 
marriage. 


240 


FLORIDA WILDS 


The old parson, enjoying his triumph to 
the full, chewed and spat the more ve- 
hemently, and then announced with a pom- 
pous gesture of supreme authority : 

^‘Ther perceedin’s ’ll come ter ’n eend 
till thet license kin arrive!” 

This was the moment for the irrepressi- 
ble and resourceful McLeod. 

Stepping quickly to the front, he com- 
manded, in a loud tone: 

^ ^ Silence ! ” as the crowd had begun to be 
noisy and restless. All eyes were instantly 
riveted on the uniformed marshal of the 
day, and the utmost silence prevailed. 

‘‘Parson,” said he, stepping up to that 
individual, “I believe you said you couldn’t 
— tie this here knot till the license turned 
up?” 

“Thet’s what I said, pine-blank,” re- 
torted the parson, resentfully, and added: 
“Ther perceedin’s hev done stopped ontil 
thet minnit ! ’ ’ 

“Well,” replied Mac, “that minute has 
come aroun’ — ay golly ! the proceedin’s will 
go forward!” handing Uncle Ichabod a 
document from his pocket. 

The parson opened it and, adjusting his 
spectacles, looked at it intently in surprise 
and mystery, while the couple and the 
crowd recovered spirit and waited in eager 
expectation. 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


241 


Taking off his glasses, wiping them on 
his sleeve, and readjusting them, he again 
scrutinized the paper. 

Finally raising his eyes to Mac’s face he 
asked, indignantly: 

‘‘Mr. McLeod, I’d lik’ ter know what 
sort uv trick is this ye air er tryin’ ter play 
off on er law-erbidin’ citizen like me! I 
hev knowed these hyer chillun ever sence 
they was knee high ter a toad-frog, an’ I 
know Bud Mosely is one uv ’em, an’ Mandy 
Gillson is ther t’other. In this hyer dock- 
erment Bud is writ down es Christopher 
Columbus Mosely, an’ Mandy es Amanda 
Eliza Gillson. Do ye tek me fer er fool?” 

“No, not that, parson — ^you said you was 
a law-abidin’ citizen an’ — ay golly! if you 
are, you’ll start the weddin’ wheel to rollin’ 
ag’in,” answered Mac, smiling. 

‘ ‘ Christopher Columbus diskivered 
Ameriky,” replied the parson. “Do you 
’spect me ter tek Bud hyer fur him?” 

“Ay golly! no,” said Mac, laughing. 
“Bud discovered Mandy, an’ — she’s more 
than all America to him ! ” 

Just then a deep “Ahem !” seemed to jar 
the ground, and Old Hugh once more came 
to the front. 

“Parson,” he said, in tones of thunder, 
“Bud thar is my son, es ye know. His 
right name is pine-blank lik’ hit’s writ on 


242 


FLOEIDA WILDS 


thet paper, Christoplier Columbus. We jest 
calls 'im ‘Bud.’ An’ es fer Mandy, hyer’s 
her uncle, an’ he says thet is her right 
name thar, too. Ain’t thet so, Jim?” he 
asked, addressing old Simpson, who also 
had come forward. 

“Thet’s so,” he replied, “an’ I’ll swear 
hit by ther Scriptur ’ ! ” 

A few moments of silence prevailed, and 
then the parson, wilting, and seeming to 
comprehend, resumed: 

“Waal, then, all thet bein’ ther case, 
them impediments is removed. Now if 
ennybody else in this hyer crowd knows 
enny other reason why these two people 
ort not ter be jined tergether, speak right 
out this minnit, ur else alius hyerafter keep 
yer mouth shet!” 

After a moment’s pause, Mac said: 

“I don’t think anybody objected, Par- 
son, except Bill Sykes, an’ — ay golly! he 
only wanted the gal hisself !” 

No one else spoke, and Uncle Ichabod, 
having recovered his good humor, turned 
with awful dignity to the couple. 

“An’ now,” he said, “hit becomes my 
sacrid juty with this hyer license in my 
han’ an’ ther Scriptur’ er lyin’ on ther 
cheer hyer afore us, ter jine this man an’ 
this ’oman in ther holy bon’s uv metri- 
mony. Ye air called ’pon ter answer ther 


FLORIDA WILDS 243 

questions I’m erbout ter ax ye, es true es 
ye’ll bev ter answer questions when some 
day ther angel Gabri’l an’ ther devil ’ll be 
’sputin’ over yer sperits on t’other shore: 

‘‘Bud Mosely, air ye willin’ ter tek 
Mandy ter be yer unly wife, an’ think er 
pow’ful sight more uv her ’n enny other 
’oman, an’ stick ter her, sick ur well, 
through thick an’ thin, jest es long es ye 
an’ her is both er drawin’ ther breath o’ 
life?” 

“I’ll do hit, parson, ur karfoun’ my pic- 
tur’!” answer^ Bud, emphatically. 

‘ ‘ Thet answer is satisfactory. Bud, 
’ceptin’ thet oath ye swore, which is er 
cuss-word, an’ onscript’ral. Ye mus’ 
promise me now afore I go enny furder, 
thet ye will never use thet word erg ’in in 
gittin’ merried.” 

“Jest thet er way, pine-blank, parson! 
An’ ef I don’t keep m’ word, kar — er — rer 
— ^ye needn’t ter marry me erg ’in ! ’ ’ 

“An’ now, Mandy,” resumed the parson, 
“hit’s yer turn. Air ye willin’ ter tek Bud 
fer yer unly husban’ an’ stick right square 
up ter ’im like he sez he’ll do ter ye, in sick- 
ness an’ in health, an’ through ther ups an’ 
downs thet mout erflict ye, one ur t’other, 
es long es ye both ’ll travel in this hyer 
world below!’’ 


244 


FLORIDA WILDS 


<<I ergree ter all ye say, Parson, an’ more 
besides, ef tbar’s enny need uv hit.” 

Waal, then, bein’ es ye hev both ergreed 
ter ther terms uv ther Scrip tur’ an’ ther 
license, jine yer right ban’s tergether. An’ 
now in ther presence of all these hyer peo- 
ple, I pernounce ye husban’ an’ wife, an’ 
tie this hyer knot eccordin’ ter ther laws 
uv ther Medes an’ Pershuns, that changith 
not. Let nary man try to part hit in 
sunder!” 

A big shout went up from the crowd and 
they rushed toward the young couple to 
congratulate them in their simple way. But 
Mac was ahead of all. 

^^Mandy,” he said, ^^ay golly! I’ll take 
another kiss — ^that pays for the license— I 
knowed Bud would forgit it.” 

Mandy smiled as she turned her cheek to 
Mac, and Bud said, gratefully: 

^‘Ef ye ain’t the beatenest man ter run 
er weddin’ thet ever I seed, karfoun’ my 
pictur’ !” 

Soon old Simpson reached Mac and re- 
quested him to announce supper, as the 
long, board tables improvised under the 
mulberries stood loaded with good things. 

Mac stepped into the glare of the pine 
torches and called out : 

^‘Silence! The Parson will now say the 
blessin’ an’ then the crowd — can go to 


FLORIDA WILDS 


245 


eatin^ But if you want to keep — ^your 
stomachs in good order, ay golly I — quit the 
table hungry.’’ This excellent hygienic 
admonition was not needed among those 
robust, cheerful people, who scarcely knew 
what dyspepsia meant. 

After this bountiful repast had been en- 
joyed to the full, the young folks felt that 
the occasion would not be complete with- 
out the old shin-dig” they were so fond 
of. Mac had never witnessed one, and en- 
tered into the frolic with all the zest of a 
native-born Cracker. Laying aside his 
spurs, he selected the prettiest girl he 
could find for a partner, his tall, military 
figure and uniform making him quite con- 
spicuous. It was a rich opportunity for 
his fun-loving, innocent nature, and at its 
close he exclaimed to his friends : 

‘^Well, boys, I’m satisfied — ^with my job. 
I didn’t know, ay golly! match-makin’ was 
sich fun!” 




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BBRKEEPERi 

3ERVATIONTECHNOLCX3IES. INC. 


PRESERVATION TECHNOLCX3IES. INC.^ 

Ill Tkomson Park Drive 
Crantjerry Twp., PA 16066 
(412)779-2111 


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